Delta’s Unique Transpacific Strategy in Japan

U.S. major global airlines have long relied on transpacific joint venture partnerships with Asian carriers to streamline connections through key hubs. American Airlines partners with Japan Airlines, a fellow Oneworld member, while United Airlines teams up with All Nippon Airways under Star Alliance. Both of these partnerships view Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports as essential transpacific connecting hubs that extend their networks. In contrast, Delta Air Lines operates differently, as it does not have a Japanese partner. Instead, Delta’s antitrust-immunized Asia-Pacific joint venture is with fellow SkyTeam member Korean Air, which uses Seoul Incheon Airport as its regional hub. As a result, Delta’s flights to Tokyo’s Haneda airport function almost entirely as origin and destination services rather than mere transfer points.

At a recent Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute Civil Aviation Symposium in Washington, D.C., Bob Letteney, Delta’s vice president of international government affairs and policy, explained that Delta’s unique approach means the vast majority of its passengers on flights to Haneda are ending their journey in Japan. “The way we serve Asia is through Incheon,” Letteney stated. “We do not have a Japanese partner … Unlike our competitors, we’re not flowing a lot of traffic through Tokyo. So, 88% of our passengers get off the plane in Tokyo. Another 8% actually connect within Japan. About 96% of our traffic to Haneda remains in Japan, which is good for travel and tourism between our countries.”

This operational strategy not only sets Delta apart from its competitors but also reinforces Japan’s growing position as a major international travel destination. The Delta-Korean Air joint venture further enhances connectivity by linking passengers from Incheon to over a dozen Japanese destinations via Korean Air flights. Letteney highlighted a remarkable 40% increase in travel from the United States to Japan since 2019, underscoring the rising demand for transpacific travel and the benefits of Delta’s approach.

Delta serves Haneda from several major U.S. hubs, including Atlanta, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Seattle. These routes provide one-stop access to Japan from across the United States, offering convenience and reliability for both leisure and business travelers. Delta’s strategy ensures that Tokyo functions as a true origin and destination market, rather than simply a connecting point, thereby driving more direct travel and fostering stronger economic ties between the U.S. and Japan.

The importance of Japan as a destination has been further emphasized by record-breaking international visitor numbers. Reiko Nakayam, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s assistant vice minister for international aviation, revealed that Japan welcomed 36.9 million international visitors in 2024, a 47% increase over the previous year and 16% above pre-pandemic levels. Such strong growth in international traffic reinforces the significance of transpacific routes and the role that robust airline partnerships play in meeting this demand.

Delta’s decision to operate its Haneda flights as O&D services, rather than using Tokyo as a transfer point, offers a clear advantage for Japan’s tourism and business sectors. This approach ensures that more U.S. passengers begin or end their journeys in Japan, boosting local travel, increasing economic activity, and supporting the broader growth of international air travel between the two regions. By focusing on direct origin and destination services, Delta is not only distinguishing its network strategy from its peers but also contributing to the continued strength of Japan’s transpacific market.

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