Delta ends routes at Tokyo's Narita airport, signalling start of major shift in Asia

Delta Air Lines is ending three routes to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, the first sign that its Japanese hub, built by Northwest Airlines, may be unspooling as a result of changes to aviation rules.

The carrier predicted in February that it could lose many Narita routes if the U.S. signed an agreement with Japan to gradually open up more U.S. flights to the Tokyo’s closer-in Haneda Airport. This week, Delta announced the first of such route losses since that agreement took effect while also signaling a shift in its Asia model away from a megahub toward more direct, point-to-point flights.

Delta said it will stop flying between Narita and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport this fall. It will also abandon Narita-Osaka and Narita-Bangkok routes.

http://www.startribune.com/delta-ends-routes-at-tokyo-s-narita-airport-signalling-start-of-major-shift-in-asia/389920041/