Regulators reject Delta claim over Tokyo route

American Airlines Group will keep the right to fly between Los Angeles and Tokyo's Haneda airport, after federal regulators rejected claims by Delta Air Lines that the privilege should be revoked because American failed to begin service quickly enough.

American has until March 27 to begin the flights to Haneda airport, the US Transportation Department ruled. The carrier said this month that it would begin daily service starting February 11, after securing favourable arrival and departure times from Japanese officials.

The US decision was the latest development in a year-long spat between the carriers for one of only four existing routes between the US and Haneda, which many business travellers prefer over Tokyo's Narita International Airport because it is closer to the Japanese capital. Delta gave up one of those routes to American in June after a fight between the two airlines, but argued in an October 1 filing that its rival should cede the route after it didn't start service within 60 days.