JAL to Comment on Allocation of Additional Slots at Tokyo (Haneda) International Airport
02-Oct-2013 Japan Airlines (JAL) has received notification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) regarding the current allocation of international flight departure and arrival slots to be added from FY2014 at Tokyo (Haneda) Airport.From the standpoint of the factors listed below, JAL had requested an equal allocation based on the idea that equal distribution among the two airlines operating international flights would lead to the maximization of both convenience for passengers and benefit to the national interest.
- Promotion of connections linking domestic and overseas points
- Promotion of passenger convenience through competition among the two main Japanese airlines and global alliances
- Maximization of numbers of flights within limited departure and arrival slots
The content of the notification is among 16 additional slots at Tokyo (Haneda) Airport for Japanese airlines, JAL was allocated 5 slots but the other Japanese airline received 11. It diverged greatly from an even allocation. In addition, the new criteria pertained to the establishment of a given new route which set the limitation for free business activities, and we sincerely regret that we cannot accept this.
Decisions regarding the allocation of national assets such as departure and arrival slots were not made from the standpoint of maximization of passenger convenience and the national interest. Additionally, no rational reason was given by MLIT as to how the current allocation would bring about such benefits. We received the explanation that this decision was made based on whether or not the criteria pertained to the establishment of a given new route. It has not been specifically explained why new criteria have been abruptly established, why it is that routes established at Tokyo (Haneda) Airport are to be regarded as "new", or how they might impede or distort an appropriate competitive environment.
JAL will proceed to formally seek from MLIT a rational explanation and a correction of the content of this allocation.