American Airlines will suspend service between New York and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Sept. 3. The airline intends to resume flying the route next June.
The airline had asked the Department of Transportation to suspend the service without penalty because demand has dropped following the earthquake and Tsunami in northern Japan in March.
American filed its request after Delta obtained a waiver to delay Detroit-Haneda to June 1. American specifically cited that action and told the DOT it wanted "equivalent relief."
After American filed, United filed an answer in opposition, noting that American started service in February, dropped it in April, resumed service on July 1, and is asking suspend service again.
United asked the DOT to deny American’s request or at a minimum limit the dormancy period to June 1, which is what the DOT did.
The New York route was one of four Haneda routes awarded to U.S. airlines in 2010, after the U.S. and Japan signed an open-skies pact. Haneda is a desirable airport because it is closer to downtown Tokyo than Narita Airport.
American will continue to serve Narita from New York, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles.