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Bordallo to DOT: Reconsider Guam-Haneda route
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Posted on Jul 21 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo expressed her concern today with recent requests by air carriers for the U.S. Department of Transportation to temporarily reduce or suspend service of U.S. air carriers to Haneda Airport in Japan.
In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Bordallo emphasized that this request is inconsistent with the original terms of an Open Skies agreement established between the United States and the Government of Japan in 2009.
She requested that the DOT reconsider applications for U.S. carriers to fly between Guam and Haneda to enhance Guam’s tourism industry and provide additional service between the Tokyo metropolitan area and Guam.
Continental Airlines applied for a Guam-Haneda route, but it was not accepted by the DOT last year. Currently, United Airlines operates sporadic charter flights between Guam and Haneda Airport.
The 2009 Open Skies agreement opened up several slots at the Haneda International Airport for use by U.S. airlines flying between the United States and Japan. The agreement set liberal ground rules for airline service between the two countries and created free market competition by lifting restrictions on international route rights. The Open Skies agreement also allows airlines to enter into code-sharing or leasing arrangements with other airlines of either country.
“It is important to continue to diversify Guam’s tourism market by opening up new markets in Japan as well as in other countries,” said Bordallo. “Japanese tourists account for the overwhelming majority of Guam’s tourists visitor arrivals. Allowing certain airlines to continue to delay their U.S. to Haneda Airport service impedes the intent of opening up Haneda to U.S. carriers and does not help to prove the economic viability of Haneda. Opening up a U.S. slot at Haneda for a Guam flight would be very beneficial to our economy and will help the U.S. fulfill the terms of the Open Skies agreement. I strongly encourage Secretary LaHood to use a Haneda slot for service to Guam.” [I](PR)[/I]
