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Delta had put the realization of these benefits
in jeopardy when it virtually abandoned the
Seattle-Haneda route last winter by operating
service approximately only one week every 90
days between October 2014 and late-March 2015.
That led the Department to conduct this
proceeding to decide whether to let Delta keep
the route or to instead award this Haneda
authority to a different carrier ready to more
fully use it, even if from a different U.S.
gateway.
Besides Delta, American Airlines applied
for Los Angeles-Haneda authority and Hawaiian
Airlines applied for Kona, Hawaii-Haneda
authority.
Several factors influenced DOT’s decision to
allow Delta to retain the route.
Notably, in the proceeding, Delta made an
unequivocal commitment to restore a full pattern
of daily Seattle-Haneda service and to continue
that service year-round.
Delta also presented evidence of expanded
operations in
Seattle, strengthening
that commitment and the economic feasibility of
the promised daily service.
Still, given Delta’s past conduct with the
Haneda authority, DOT felt that further measures
were needed to ensure that
Seattle
gateway passengers are able to realize the
benefits that DOT sought and that Delta promised
to deliver.
Therefore, DOT imposed a condition that
any failure by Delta (absent DOT authorization)
to operate any Seattle-Haneda flight,
year-round, in either direction, would
constitute a violation of its authority.
Additionally, any failure by Delta
(absent DOT authorization) to perform Seattle-Haneda
service on two days of any seven-day period
would mean the immediate loss of Delta’s
authority.
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