Last month, American Airlines applied for slots that Delta Air Lines returned earlier this year when it decided not to launch Portland – Tokyo Haneda. Earlier this month, its application was fully approved. Now, the airline has announced the route launch date and flight schedule.
The route, which the airline used to operate until December 2013, will be relaunched and operated daily from June 28, 2024, as follows:
- New York JFK – Tokyo Haneda / 11:25AM – 2:30PM+1
- Tokyo Haneda – New York JFK / 4:30PM – 4:35PM
The flights will be put up for sale on February 26, 2024, at which point the flight numbers should be revealed too.
As reported previously, American Airlines will use Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the route. With that, 37 business, 24 premium economy, and 212 economy (including 66 extra legroom “Main Cabin Extra”) class seats will be available on each flight.
American Airlines’ flights on the route will be part of the airline’s joint venture with JAL and “will complement flights offered by our joint business partner, Japan Airlines, giving more ways for our customers travel between the U.S. and Japan,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning.
In addition to domestic and regional connections on both ends, passengers traveling between the two cities will be able to choose from three departure times when traveling between New York and Tokyo. The new 11:25AM daily American Airlines departure from New York will complement JAL’s existing daily 1:20PM and 1:30AM departures. In the other direction, the departure times will be 4:30PM, 11:05AM, and 6:30PM respectively.
For comparison, there are no SkyTeam member flights between the two airports, and Star Alliance flights are limited to ANA’s two daily flights (plus a daily flight from Newark by United).
Outside New York, American Airlines will also continue to offer one daily flight to Dallas and two daily flights to Los Angeles from Haneda.