The new direct flight continues Delta’s expansion in Seattle to key markets in Asia which includes their current service to Tokyo-Narita, Osaka and Beijing, plus a recent announcement to add service to Shanghai in 2013. “We would like to thank all of the community partners in the region who helped express support for a highly competitive process that will bring new economic opportunities through Delta’s Haneda service,” said Mark Reis, Managing Director for Sea-Tac Airport. “Everyone from the Governor’s office to congressional delegations, area mayors, businesses, plus trade and tourism organizations helped to make this bid successful.” Haneda is a major benefit for travellers looking for a more convenient location within central Tokyo rather than the more distant location of Narita. Flight slots are highly regulated into Haneda. Seattle was among four cities in competition for the new service to Haneda, including Los Angeles (by American Airlines), San Francisco (United), and Kona, Hawaii (Hawaiian). The US Department of Transportation 'Show Cause Order' noted in its approval: “We tentatively find that Delta’s proposal would best serve the public interest by providing the first nonstop Haneda service on a significant mainland US-Tokyo route that currently lacks any such service, thereby establishing a new U.S. gateway to Haneda. “We tentatively find that Delta’s proposed service would further serve the public interest by providing a number of western cities with a first one-stop connecting opportunity to Haneda.”
The Haneda service will complement three current Tokyo-Narita services at Sea-Tac. The flight would be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, and would begin service March 2013.Source; Routenews
Gravity always wins!