U.S., Japan agree to seek 'open skies' deal by year-end

Saturday 19th September, 05:09 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

8 Comments

Beelzebub at 10:30 AM JST - 19th September

I hope the "open skies" system does not result in US carriers boards of directors being flooded with retired officials from the Japanese ministry of transport...
gyouza at 03:52 PM JST - 19th September

This will result in more US airlines providing more flights to non US countries out of Japan's airports. Won't we be lucky!

Conversely, Japan's airlines can do the same out of US airports. A really balanced deal, right? US should open up the domestic market and provide some quality opposition!
rajakumar at 05:33 PM JST - 19th September

Open skies between Japan and USA by January,2010. Way to go USA/Japan.
The758 at 06:34 AM JST - 20th September

US should open up the domestic market and provide some quality opposition!

Here, here. If I could fly JAL/ANA all the way home I would.
lostrune2 at 03:19 PM JST - 20th September

Though this is Japan's first one, I believe the US already has open-skies agreements with several other countries. The US has always been looking to make open-skies deals where its airlines could stand to gain (the other countries look to gain too).
gyouza at 09:47 AM JST - 21st September

Though this is Japan's first one, I believe the US already has open-skies agreements with several other countries. The US has always been looking to make open-skies deals where its airlines could stand to gain (the other countries look to gain too).

The difference is thatthe Open Skies agreement with the EU means that US Airlines can fly on to 3rd countries from their first landing. Essentially, this means building a feeder network within Europe to supply the transatlantic flights - quite lucrative. The US also allows EU airlines to fly on to third countries (not exactly lucrative given the scale of the US) but explicitly prohibits domestic US flights that would be of the same distance duration as the flights the US airlines have been allowed in the EU. Fair? As I mentioned before, I'd like to see true open skies, which means that eral competition on all routes (domestic and international) would expose the weaker airlines and provide real competition as opposed to protection. That would have a positive effect on Japan too, which must rank as one of the most expensive sectors to travel (why does it cost as much to fly to Okinawa with no onboard service as it does to the UK with two meals and free drinks all the way?)
Kwaabish at 11:11 AM JST - 24th September

It would be great to see NH fly US routes and have that as an option compared to UA, AA, DL, et.al.

Or it would be even better if other Asian carriers could do the same. SQ would embarrass any US carrier with its clean planes and high level of service.
Kwaabish at 11:15 AM JST - 24th September

(why does it cost as much to fly to Okinawa with no onboard service as it does to the UK with two meals and free drinks all the way?)

I'd ask the same of why it costs almost as much to fly ORD-SEA as it does ORD-NRT (off season)sometimes.