P.M. BRIEFING : Japan Blocks United Airlines From Chicago-to-Tokyo Service
United Airlines, hours before a gala news conference to inaugurate its Chicago-Tokyo service, today was denied permission by Japanese officials to fly the route until a dispute between U.S. and Japanese cargo carriers over an aviation pact is resolved.
In October, United was granted the Tokyo-Chicago route by the Department of Transportation. It then applied for landing rights at Tokyo-Narita International Airport.
Approval of United’s request became linked to a dispute involving United Parcel Service in Tokyo. UPS complained the late-morning slots it was given at Tokyo’s airport made it impossible to make next-day deliveries in the United States.
The Department of Transportation, as a way of pressuring the Japanese government, decided to withhold landing permission at O’Hare Airport for Japan Air Lines and Nippon Cargo Airlines.
The United decision was seen as a response to that decision.
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