Delta CEO calls for open skies in Japan

Alternatively, call for maglev or shinkansen services connecting Narita directly to Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shinagawa and Yokohama stations that take 30 minutes or less and cost no more than 3,000 yen.

Even though I live in fairly central tokyo, most of my journey to Narita is spent crawling along the congested commuter lines.

"Other competition would blow them away."

There's a striking logic fail in that statement. If they're uncompetitive, as you suggest, then why the resistance in giving them a level playing field? What is the fear?

As it is, Delta has survived for a long time in Japan while dealing with all the disadvantages in Japan, such as no access to an airport in Tokyo. So why hasn't the competition blow them away already, especially when the competition, like ANA and JAL, have been handed the advantages that Delta doesn't have?

I've had the worst service on international flights to/from Japan on ANA and JAL, while I've had good flights on Delta or American. Delta has HBO on demand on their entertainment system which can be useful if you can't sleep

Wow. You might be the only person in the world that said he had better service from US flag carriers than airlines from Asia. Are you basing that solely off of HBO on Demand?

Even though I live in fairly central tokyo, most of my journey to Narita is spent crawling along the congested commuter lines.

Why not use the Skyliner (2800 yen to Ueno) which only takes 45 minutes, has never been crowded when I've used it, and from Ueno you can pretty much connect to most places in Tokyo. I've only ever used Narita (coming from Europe) so I can't comment on Haneda, but I've never found it an issue.

Lets open US skies to non-US carriers first. But that would mean no need for a US/Japan open skies agreement, as the good value "foreign" carriers would wipe the floor of the US domestic market with good value flights.

Delta should learn how to operate their own airline business satisfactorily before poking their nose into the airlines of other countries. Delta can only dream of offering a service such as the Japanese carriers and some of their Asian counterparts do.

Yeah, I don't fly Delta. But the money grubbing CEO is correct that Japanese markets are closed to many types of foreign competition.

Delta forgot to think Japan is small country with people using shinkansen instead of airlines.

Delta's stance is open it up, but only open it up to DELTA. I'm sure they'll blow steam if it was opened up to AA or United Insteads (since both AA and United have ties with JAL and ANA). Any case, sure open more Haneda slots, just not for DELTA, which is a terrible airline, even more when it merged with NorthWorst airlines.

Been reading all this sounds like most have no idea, how things are handled in US talking about air carriers US skys are more open to several airliners from around the world, obviously like any country domestic traveling like Japan is handle by local airliners this is in every coutry. Now if delta asking for spots to get a piece of the local market thats a fair request. But if Japan thinks protecting fail bussines like JAL and ANA willl do any good thats a total mistake rather have those bussines rebuild from the ground and see why they failing at a level they need to be protected in the first place,

It was reported on US cites that a man left his baggage at SEA-TAC because of the $1400 in overweight bagge fees that Delta was going to charge him for a SEA-NYC flight

I am not the biggest fan of Delta, but they are right with regard to their fees in this instance. That overweight baggage fee was for someone trying to fly with seven pieces of luggage. Who the heck flies with that much? The reason for the high fee is that the charges go up with each additional bag. Eventually you can have so many bags that the flight is in effect carrying another passenger. Let's assume 40lbs per bag. That makes 280lbs of luggage; as much as an average size person with one checked bag.

As for Delta operating more out of Haneda . . . not going to happen. DAL says it would take 25 slots at HND to move back there, and the talk is of opening up 42 slots. So DAL should get more than half of those?

Why not use the Skyliner (2800 yen to Ueno) which only takes 45 minutes,

I do take the Skyliner, but it takes me two or three commuter trains to get to Ueno. When Ueno Station was built, a long time ago, it was near the center of things. That's no longer true, as many of Tokyo's main areas shifted west, to the other side of the city.

Toshiko.

Agree why take a plane when a shinkansen ticket can take you from Town-centre to town-center at the same cost as a plane. No need to add extra transportation costs, etc.

My wifes family lives in Nagoya and the shink from shinagawa is fast and OK.

I wonder if Mr. Anderson has ever flown business class on JAL to New York or for that matter any ANA, Asiana, or Singapore Airlines flight. I can imagine he (and his colleagues) must have been chuckling as they added up the cost these companies invest back in their product and attention to service detail.

I don't even think his vendors in Japan fly on Delta.? Keep your efforts to expand the commoditization of air travel concept to America please.

ANA and JAL already in trouble and Mr. CEO wants us to open skies, good good, lets swap and get ANA to run the domestic routes in America.

Please... the Japanese market 'open up'? Doesn't matter that Maeda wanted Haneda to be Asia's hub. Doesn't matter that they could reallocate slots without Kaneko's excuses. Doesn't matter that JAL has had to declare bankruptcy and be bailed out, or that ANA is now in the red thanks to the Dreamliners and other factors.

Why in the world would Japanese want Delta's horrible service in Japan?

Delta is asking for Haneda rights, not rights to become an in-country carrier. These are two very different things. Haneda would make them far more competitive on international flights to Japan. As it stands, Delta is the best carrier from US-to-Japan, in my opinion. I can fly direct from 3 of their hubs today. Flying direct to Haneda would make my time in your country easier. It is a benefit to all. However, I will not be flying to Japan anytime soon until you lift the extreme tariff imposed on international flights. Cost is too high. I can save $600 and go to Paris instead.

Public agitation by a foreign business. Yeah, that always works.

@tobolski

I can save $600 and go to Paris instead.

Nice if you're a tourist; not really an option for a business person with a conference in Osaka, though.....

It was reported on US cites that a man left his baggage at SEA-TAC because of the $1400 in overweight bagge fees that Delta was going to charge him for a SEA-NYC flight. In 2012 Delta collected more than $865 million in baggage fees, more than any other domestic US airline. That money is not taxed and goes right into the pockets of the airlines. Yet they still want to charge for airport fees and fuel surchages.

I say let them stay at Narita. Just offer the reduced or no baggage fees, and the people will make the trip and save the money.

Why should any country let their companies be overrun by foreign competition?

Delta are awful anyway so not sure what he thinks they will gain from an "opening up" of Japan. Other competition would blow them away.

If you fly to the States from Osaka (KIX) you can take Delta. Or, if you have a fantasy about decent service, you can take ANA or Japan Air - except that they will turn out to be United or American, with all the contempt for passengers that flying on a United States flag carrier implies. What more does he want from us?

Needs more black ships...

Haneda is great, I understand he wants his company based there.

But why on earth would he expect his company, an American one, to get the same treatment as the two big locals? That makes no sense. What makes sense is for JCAB to support local airlines. I think Mr. Anderson should focus on other issues.

same reason why we don't see ANA/JAL connections between LAX and JFK

I would rather see more competition among airlines serving Japan. If you don't live in Tokyo or Osaka, it can be quite cumbersome getting on an international flight out of Narita. It usually requires a flight to Haneda, then a bus/train transfer to Narita. There don't seem to be many domestic routes between smaller cities in Japan to Narita, but many to Haneda. I don't think I'm the only one, but I've had the worst service on international flights to/from Japan on ANA and JAL, while I've had good flights on Delta or American. Delta has HBO on demand on their entertainment system which can be useful if you can't sleep.

The same rule and reciprocity should be applied to all Japanese airliners flying over US sky.

They need to demand the same rights flying over US sky then. What about a security issue then? I am sure we, US, citizens do not feel comfortable about this idea since the 9/11.

Therefore, this demand is very unreasonable and aggressive. . This is a classic irrational behavior of American business with NO respect and sensitivity to others. We in old school never done that to others. Shame.

Mr. Richard Anderson, the buck stops there and back off.