Delta Air Lines is reshuffling two transpacific routes from Seattle, nixing flights to Hong Kong and adding service to Osaka.
The move marks a reversal of changes in 2013 and 2014, when Delta cut Seattle-Osaka flights and added Seattle-Hong Kong service.
Delta now says it will restart flights between Seattle Tacoma International airport and Osaka's Kansai International airport in 2019, though a media release does not disclose a start date.
The release also does not provide schedule details. Delta tells FlightGlobal details will be forthcoming.
The carrier will operate the Osaka flight using Boeing 767-300ERs outfitted with 225 seats, including 25 flat-bed seats, 29 seats in premium economy and 171 economy seats, the release says.
The new Osaka flight will be part of Delta's joint venture with Korean Air. Regulators approved that deal in recent months.
No other carriers fly between Seattle and Osaka, and Delta currently serves Osaka only from Honolulu.
While adding Osaka, Delta "made the difficult business decision" to end its service between Seattle and Hong Kong, effective 4 October, the release says.
Delta notes it will still sell seats to Hong Kong via Seoul on flights operated by Korean.
Delta flew the Seattle-Osaka route between June 2010 and November 2013, primarily using 767s, but also deploying Airbus A330s on the route, according to FlightGlobal schedules data.
The company ended that service due to "an "unstable revenue environment caused by [Japanese] yen devaluation and weak demand", Delta said in 2013.
Then in June 2014 Delta added the Seattle-Hong Kong route to its network. Delta has deployed 777s and A330s on that route, schedules data shows.
Delta also flies to the Asian cities of Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo from Seattle.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
