Summary
- United Airlines has applied for Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) slots previously held by Hawaiian Airlines, proposing to operate direct flights between Guam and HND.
- United Airlines argues that Hawaiian Airlines underutilized the slots and that no other airline has expressed interest in applying for them previously.
- The DOT rejected United Airlines’ previous application in September 2023 but encouraged them to try again if the chance arose.
United Airlines has applied for Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) slots, which have been given back to the USA (US) Department of Transportation (DOT) by Hawaiian Airlines. The slots are effective April 2, 2024, meaning that if the DOT grants United Airlines permission to operate the flights, it could start using the timings from that date.
Connecting Guam
Within the DOT filing, the airline proposed to operate the first-ever direct connection between Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) and HND. United Airlines argued if the DOT were to award the nighttime-only slot to it, it might find a way to utilize the “invaluable asset” in its highest and best use, adding that Hawaiian Airlines had underutilized it when it had the slot pair in its possession.
The carrier supported its argument with several facts, including that it had already applied for five of seven Hawaiian Airlines’ nighttime-only frequencies in September 2023. On the time, its application was based on the allegation that the Hawaii-based carrier underutilized the five frequencies. Moreover, no other airline has applied or expressed interest in applying for the slots, making it an uncontested application for United Airlines.
Photo: United Airlines
Still, the DOT rejected the airline’s application without prejudice. The airline cited the Department, which said in September 2023 that if a possibility arose, the corporate was free to try its luck once more. As such, following Hawaiian Airlines informing the DOT that it’ll return its nighttime slot at HND to fly to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kona International Airport (KOA) 4 and thrice per week, respectively, United Airlines is applying for the slot.
The airline noted that the Guam government’s support for the applying is included by reference from its application in September 2023. United Airlines also detailed the landing and departure times from and to GUM and HND throughout the summer and winter seasons:
Flight number |
GUM departure |
HND arrival |
HND departure |
GUM arrival |
Flight UA848 (summer) |
19:00 |
22:00 |
23:55 |
04:45 (next day) |
Flight UA849 (winter) |
19:10 |
22:00 |
23:55 |
04:40 (next day) |
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Connecting Guam to Japan
Once more, United Airlines reiterated that no other airline has expressed interest in operating the frequencies, so the DOT should immediately grant them to the carrier. Moreover, the Department should do it as soon as possible, arguing that because it was the exclusive interested party within the frequencies up to now, the DOT shouldn’t spend more government resources
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