U.S., Japan reach open skies agreement

I can't see how it will make much difference since both Haneda and Narita are crammed to the gills right now. How about opening up new civilian airports at Atsugi and Yokota?

hopefully this will bring about some flights from kyushu to the mainland u.s.a.

Great. I can just see rural prefectures now pushing for international airports because Japan doesn't have enough!

haha. Seriously. Can't see how this will change things, much.

"both Haneda and Narita are crammed to the gills right now"

And the economy is supposed to be sucking right now. Gosh, what happens if the economy ever starts booming?

"How about opening new civiian airports at Atsugi and Yokota?"

What! And have no more space between the streets and the buildings and actual parking spaces around the buildings?

"smithinjapan Great. I can just see rural prefectures now pushing for international airports because Japan doesn't have enough!

many of the rural prefectures already have international airports, but they only deal with flights to & from asian countries.

This should be good news for those that travel back and forth between Japan and the US. More competition should mean more options and better prices. The stewardesses on US carriers will still be old hags with about as much charm as a bag of nuts but at least it will probably cost less to be jammed into a planes fuselage like a sardine.

hopefully this will bring about some flights from kyushu to the mainland u.s.a. I hear you on that. It would make getting to Oita much easier for me...not to mention cheaper. :-)

If I read this agreement correctly, it means U.S. carriers are able to service additional routes between any city in Japan and off-shore. Great..one of the biggest draw-backs is flying to Fukuoka from any point in the U.S. You either miss the last flight out of Narita or have to rush by bus limousine to Haneda to catch the alternate flight. You have to pay an additional fare for the final leg for $300 one-way. Usually, I just stay overnight in Tokyo and leave the next day. They should also extend the curfew beyond 10pm to make this agreement more meaningful.

If I read this agreement correctly, it means U.S. carriers are able to service additional routes between any city in Japan and off-shore. Great..one of the biggest draw-backs is flying to Fukuoka from any point in the U.S.

No one cares about this. If the airlines can't make US-KIX or US-NGO work, what makes you think they'll add US-FUK? All they want are access to NRT and HND.

I dont think many here are comprehending what is to happen here, there wont be incresaed competition folks, these airlines arent all going to be competing, they are rushing 2 groups of airlines who will be able to reduce costs & increase revenue not through competition but through collusion, a massive difference!

The major arteries will still see some competition but again look for airlines to tightly regulate the size & number of flights serving markets to ensure two things, maximum passengers on flights & maximum revenue.

Again competition will be limited to only the busiest routes here

And the economy is supposed to be sucking right now. Gosh, what happens if the economy ever starts booming?

not much chance of that happening in our lifetimes