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Posted: Friday, November 16th, 2012 9:09 AM HST

Hawaiian loses bid for Haneda-Kona route

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Hawaiian Airlines has lost its bid to offer nonstop daily service between Tokyo's Haneda International Airport and the Big Island’s Keahole Airport. The U.S. Department of Transportation said on Thursday it will instead allow Delta Air Lines to transfer its previously approved Haneda slot from Detroit to Seattle. The Big Island has been without scheduled flights from Japan since Japan Airlines ended service on October 29, 2010, from Narita International Airport. The DOT said it had tentatively concluded that it would be in the public interest to allow Delta to use the opportunity for service from Seattle. Airlines have until November 26th to object to DOT’s order to award the route to Delta. If objections are filed, answers to objections will be due December 3rd.