United Airlines is hoping to expand its footprint in Tokyo.
This week, the Chicago-based carrier filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation, asking for approval to fly daily from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).
United is also asking permission to fly from Guam’s Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) to Haneda as part of the filing.
If approved, the service could begin as soon as Dec. 1, United says.
However, getting the sign-off for these routes is a bit complicated.
U.S. airlines can operate a limited number of flights to Haneda, which is governed by slots. These use-it-or-lose-it flight rules have been largely put on hold since the pandemic but will again be enforced starting next month.
To that end, Delta Air Lines had planned to operate nonstop service from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Haneda, but last week, it formally decided to scrap the proposed service, according to the United filing.
United further argues Hawaiian Airlines isn’t using all of its available slots at Haneda and is asking the DOT to let it take over five of them — good for five weekly round trips.
Hawaiian Airlines did not immediately respond to TPG’s request for comment.
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United’s proposed Tokyo routes
Houston to Tokyo
The new Tokyo routes United is proposing would operate daily on the following schedule:
- IAH-HND (UA7) — Depart Houston at 12:30 p.m. and arrive in Tokyo at 5:45 p.m. the next day
- HND-IAH (UA6) — Depart Tokyo at 7:40 p.m. and arrive in Houston at 4:30 p.m. the same day
During the summer months, the proposed routes would depart earlier in the day in each direction.
It’s worth noting that United already flies nonstop from Houston to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT). However, Haneda is often viewed as the more convenient airport for travelers hoping to get into the city.
United’s partner, Tokyo-based All Nippon Airways, currently flies from Houston to Haneda.
United operates its current Houston-to-Tokyo (Narita) route aboard a Boeing 777-200ER.
Guam to Tokyo
United’s Guam-to-Tokyo proposal calls for five weekly round trips operating under the following schedule:
- GUA-HND (UA848) — Depart Guam at 7:10 p.m. and arrive in Tokyo at 10 p.m. the same day
- HND-GUA (UA849) — Depart Tokyo at 11:55 p.m. and arrive in Guam at 4:40 a.m. the next day
United’s Pacific emphasis
If United is successful in adding a total of 12 weekly round trips to Haneda (seven from Houston and five from Guam), it would mark just the latest recent expansion of its transpacific service.
In July, United announced plans to be the first U.S. carrier to fly to Manila, Philippines; it also announced additional routes to Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taipei, Taiwan — all beginning in the coming weeks.
That announcement came on the heels of its largest-ever South Pacific expansion announced this spring. This will see United dramatically scale up its Australia and New Zealand service, including offering a nonstop flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) on New Zealand’s South Island.
As for Tokyo, United currently has nonstop service to Haneda from several other U.S. hubs, including SFO, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Dulles International Airport (IAD), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and its home base at O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
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