United Continental reduce Japan capacity; seeks suspended Haneda slots

United Airlines and Continental Airlines will reduce capacity on Japan routes in Apr-2011 and May-2011 due to reduced demand (Travel Vision, 11-Apr-2011). Compared with the original plan, the airlines will reduce capacity by 10% for Apr-2011 and 14% for May-2011. United Airlines will not cancel any services, expressing its intention to maintain its Japan network. United Continental also submitted a petition for operating Tokyo Haneda-US route to the US Department of Transportation on 29-Mar-2011. In the petition both airlines stated that the Haneda route is important for the US and Japan and that a substitute airline should be able to operate immediately if the airlines approved by US suspend services on the route. The airlines currently approved by the DoT are Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Delta commenced Los Angeles-Haneda and Detroit-Haneda services in Feb-2011 but is now suspending operations after the earthquake. United and Continental are preparing for immediate launch in case Delta or American withdraw from the Haneda route.