BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

In the matter of 

2010 U.S.-Haneda Combination Services 

Allocation Proceeding 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0018 

ANSWER OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

TO UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to: 

 

Andrea Fischer Newman 

Senior Vice President – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director – Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

Jeff Morgan 

Regional Director – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

(202) 842-4184 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

March 31, 2011
BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

In the matter of 

2010 U.S.-Haneda Combination Services 

Allocation Proceeding 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0018 

ANSWER OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

TO UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

Delta answers in opposition to United’s application for backup authority to 

Delta’s U.S.-Haneda services.1

 Japan has suffered a tragedy of almost 

unimaginable proportions. In the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, 

and ongoing nuclear crisis, Delta temporarily suspended its two new Haneda 

services. 

United asks the Department to reallocate Delta’s Haneda slots to United in 

the event that Delta “abandons” Haneda service. Delta is not abandoning Haneda 

service. Delta’s Los Angeles-Haneda flight resumes on June 2, and Delta’s DetroitHaneda flight resumes on June 16 -- both in full compliance with the Department’s 

90 day dormancy condition. 

In its 5-page application, United does not mention the Japanese tsunami or 

its impact on U.S.-Tokyo air service. Delta’s response of temporarily suspending 

Haneda service until the immediate effects of the disaster have abated, and 

 

1 United and Continental are commonly owned by United Continental Holdings. Delta’s answer 

applies to both operating entities. 
Delta Answer 

Page 2 

resuming service in June for the summer peak is appropriate – and allowed by the 

Department’s Order. 

Yesterday it was reported that American is taking similar action, temporarily 

suspending its New York (JFK)-Haneda service, and one of two Dallas/Ft. Worth -

Narita flights.2

 These service reductions equate to one-third of American’s entire 

U.S.-Tokyo capacity. For its part, United has temporarily suspended its second daily 

San Francisco-Narita flight (originally scheduled to begin on March 26), and has 

removed 747 aircraft from the Chicago-Tokyo route for the entire summer season, 

replacing them with smaller capacity 777 aircraft.3

 

Commercial conditions in the U.S.-Japan market are highly unusual, and 

there is no record on which a reasoned public interest decision could be make to 

take Haneda slots from one carrier and award them to another. The Department 

denied United’s previous request for backup authority, because “the public interest 

would be best served by allowing us to award any unused rights on the basis of a 

fresh record.” Order 2010-7-2. Delta believes that United’s renewed effort to obtain 

Haneda slots through another application for backup authority is unwarranted. 

 Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director, Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

2 See, http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry.

3

 APG Schedules.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

A copy of the foregoing document has been served this 31st day of March, 2011, upon 

the following persons via email: 

carl.nelson@aa.com 

dan.weiss@coair.com 

thomas.bolling@coair.com 

jeffrey.manley@united.com 

Annalei.Avancena@united.com 

howard.kass@usairways.com 

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com 

jhill@dowlohnes.com 

paul.gretch@dot.gov 

keith.glatz@dot.gov 

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov 

todd.homan@dot.gov 

urskr@state.gov 

eugene_alford@ita.doc.gov 

mike.orr@airlineinfo.com