American Airlines has received tentative approval from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch a new nonstop service connecting New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).
This development positions American Airlines as the sole U.S. carrier to offer direct flights between JFK and Tokyo, enhancing the airline’s network and complementing the existing routes provided by its joint business partner, Japan Airlines.
“American looks forward to beginning nonstop service to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from JFK,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “We are grateful to the DOT and thankful to our partner Japan Airlines for supporting our application. Together, we are well-positioned to offer customers a comprehensive network between two of the most robust economies in the world. This new service will add nearly 200,000 additional round-trip seats annually between the U.S. and Japan, offering customers more ways to conduct business in the global marketplace or connect with family and friends.”
The airline has announced plans to initiate this nonstop service to HND in the near future, further expanding its international footprint. The proposed JFK–HND route will mark American Airlines’ fourth daily nonstop flight to HND, supplementing the current daily service from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and the two daily flights from Los Angeles (LAX).
In addition to increasing American Airlines’ service offerings, this new route will align with the existing services between JFK and HND operated by Japan Airlines. This alignment aims to provide customers with a broader range of choices and more flexible scheduling options for flights throughout the day.