Content area
Full Text
It's not open skies, but the latest commercial air trade deal between the United States and Japan is expected to make way for some direct air service from the Far East to Las Vegas.
The agreement was reached Jan. 30 by U.S. Transportation and State Department officials and their counterparts from Japan. Among other things, it maintains unrestricted access to Japan for United Airlines and Northwest Airlines.
The new agreement also lifts restrictions about the two incumbents' rights to use Japan as a hub while serving nearby markets including Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.
Two Japanese based airlines -- Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways -- will have similar rights.
Officials at McCarran International Airport see the elimination of restrictions on the rights to other Asian markets via Japan as the portion of the agreement that will directly benefit Las Vegas.
With the exception of some charters, McCarran International Airport has never had direct service to Asia. Instead,...