JAPAN and the USA have reached temporary agreement on outstanding route disputes in an effort to clear the way for broader negotiations on revising their 1952 bilateral air-services treaty.
Under the deal, Japan Airlines (JAL) and United Airlines will be allowed to add new passenger services and frequencies for a limited period. The two sides, in "tit-for-tat" moves, had previously blocked any new flight applications.
JAL has now been given permission to operate its planned new Tokyo-Kona, Hawaii, route until 26 October. Launch of the three-times-a-week service had been on hold since its original planned 1 April start-up date (Flight International, 19-16 April, P10).
United, in return, will be allowed to fly daily between Kansai and Seoul over the same period. The new fifth-freedom service had been blocked for more than a year by the Japanese.
The two airlines are also being given leave to add new summer-season frequencies over the next five weeks. JAL will increase its three-times-a-week Sendai-Honolulu flights to a daily service, while United will double its Los Angeles-Tokyo frequencies to 14 a week.
Other outstanding issues still need to be addressed, including JAL's application to fly from Hiroshima to Hawaii, and United and Northwest Airline's petition to operate to Jakarta, Indonesia, via Japan. Further informal talks are scheduled for 3 June.
The US Government is insisting on all outstanding passenger disputes being settled before formal talks on revising the 1952 treaty can begin. Japan wants to start discussions immediately, following the conclusion of a new air cargo accord in April.
Source: Flight International
