In a move aimed at promoting further competition in the nation's aviation industry, the Transport Ministry has favored small and fledgling airlines over the dominant All Nippon Airlines in its final distribution of slots for new flights at Haneda airport.
Of the 80 flights -- 40 new arrivals and 40 departures -- at Haneda to be made available by April next year, the ministry announced Mar. 6 that ANA will receive only 18 flights, while Japan Airlines will get 24 and Japan Air System 26. However, the change in the airlines' shares of flights at Haneda will be minor.
The remaining 12 flights will go to new firms that have announced plans to start serving domestic routes within the next two to three years. The flights will be divided evenly among ANA, JAL and JAS until the new firms begin operations.