United Continental seeking Tokyo Haneda slots if Japan service resumptions continue
United Continental Holdings has requested US regulators for permission to operate to Tokyo Haneda Airport if Delta Air Lines abandons service to the airport following the 11-Mar-2011 earthquake and tsunami (Bloomberg/Dow Jones, 05-Apr-2011). The carrier stated it could add a daily service from Guam, Newark or San Francisco "in the event that Delta (or any other Haneda-authorised US carrier) decides to abandon service". Delta Air Lines spokesman Trevor Banstetter stated the carrier plans a Jun-2011 resumption of services from Detroit and Los Angeles to Haneda, where it suspended service on 24-Mar-2011. "This has always been a temporary suspension of service," Mr Banstetter said. Delta stated United Continental's move was unwarranted and criticised the carrier for not noting the "highly unusual" condition of the US-Japan market following the March 11 disasters. American Airlines separately stated it plans to resume services to Haneda from 26-Apr-2011. Hawaiian Airlines has maintained its Haneda services. Failure to restart a service within 90 days is considered abandonment.