Delta to Leave Tokyo Narita for Haneda, Axes Singapore Flights
Delta Air Lines is making good on its long-standing threat to leave Tokyo Narita in favor of the city’s Haneda airport in what will be the biggest change to its Asia network in a decade.
The SkyTeam Alliance carrier plans to end service to Narita (NRT) and consolidate its Tokyo operations at Haneda (HND) in its summer 2020 schedule, which begins at the end of March, Delta confirmed on Thursday.
In preparation for the move, Delta will end service to Singapore (SIN) on Sept. 22, citing "financial pressure." The airline currently serves Singapore daily via Narita with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.
Delta's move to Haneda is not final yet. It is dependent on receipt of five new daytime flights the US Department of Transportation has tentatively awarded the airline, as well as securing viable slots at the Tokyo airport.
Related: Delta Air Lines Says Boston Is Now One of Its Hub Cities
If the Haneda flight awards are finalized, Delta would serve Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), Portland (PDX) in Oregon, and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) from the airport. All of the routes, except Los Angeles and Minneapolis, would move from Narita.
"This new service is a game-changer for Delta's ability to offer competitive and comprehensive access to the city," Delta says in a newsletter to employees viewed by TPG. "Haneda saves up to two hours of travel time from the airport to the city center compared to Narita."
In addition to the added convenience, the airline plans to fly its newest wide-body aircraft, the Airbus A330-900 outfitted with Delta One suites, on flights between Seattle and Haneda.
Related: Delta One on the Brand-New A330-900neo
Delta's move to Haneda from Narita has been a long time coming. In 2010, former Delta CEO Richard Anderson said that the airline wanted to move its operation to Haneda, which is closer to central Tokyo than Narita. However, the US-Japan open skies agreement has limited US carrier access to the close-in airport since it went into force in 2010.
But US carriers have gradually gained more access to Haneda. Four night-only flights became available in 2010. These were shifted to four daytime flights and one night flight in 2016. The DOT is now in the process of awarding 12 new day flights, which will bring the total available to US airlines to 16 daytime flights and one nighttime flight to Haneda.
In addition to Delta, the DOT has tentatively awarded Haneda flights to American Airlines for service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles; Hawaiian Airlines for service from Honolulu that it plans to launch next March; and United Airlines for service from Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Los Angeles, Newark Liberty (EWR) and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Delta gained a hub at Narita through its 2009 merger with Northwest Airlines. The airline’s seat capacity at the airport peaked in 2011 and has shrunk every year since, according to Diio by Cirium schedule data.
Related: Choosing the Best Credit Card for Delta Flyers
"Demand patterns have changed, with more customers preferring the direct US-Asia services that are increasingly offered today," Delta says in the employee newsletter on the pulldown of Narita.
In addition to ending Singapore service this fall, Delta will move its Manila (MNL) service from Narita to Seoul Incheon (ICN) in March 2020. Currently, Delta operates the Narita-Manila route with a 767-300ER.
Seoul has been the focus of Delta's Asia operation since it launched a joint venture with Korean Air last year. Under the partnership, which allows the airlines to act as essentially one between the US and South Korea, Delta launched new flights to Incheon from Minneapolis/St. Paul and Korean Air new flights from Boston in April.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian called the pact, and Korean Air's Seoul hub, the "backbone" of the airline's Asia network at the signing of the joint venture agreement in 2017.
Korean Air will become Delta's preferred partner to Singapore as Delta ends its own service. Passengers will continue to be able to access the city on the Korean carrier via Seoul, Delta says.
With Delta's exit, United Airlines will be the only US carrier serving Singapore. The Star Alliance carrier offers twice daily service to the Southeast Asian city from its San Francisco (SFO) hub with Boeing 787 aircraft.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.