Tokyo is One of MSP’s Longest Served International Destinations
Delta Air Lines A330-900neo at MSP Airport | MAC
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL–Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) marked a major milestone over the weekend as Delta Air Lines resumed daily, nonstop service to Japan’s Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND).
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) joined Delta to celebrate the first weekday flight between MSP and HND Monday after the route relaunched March 25. The route was suspended for three years due to the global impacts on air travel from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tokyo is one of MSP’s legacy international destinations, with service that goes back decades,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC, which operates MSP. “We’re thrilled Delta is bringing back these daily flights to continue to meet the strong passenger and business demand between the upper Midwest and Japan.”
MSP is now one of five U.S. Delta hubs that serves HND. Approximately 17,000 passengers fly to Tokyo directly from the Minneapolis-St. Paul market annually, in addition to connecting passengers through MSP from across the Delta network.
“Delta is the only carrier to provide nonstop service to Asia from MSP and restarting service to one of Asia’s most iconic cities, Tokyo, only builds on our commitment to give Minnesotans access to the destinations they want to travel to most,” said Mary Loeffelholz, Delta’s Vice President of MSP Airport Operations. “With flights to 115 destinations across the globe, to places like Seoul, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Toronto, Montego Bay and many more, Delta continues to exemplify that ‘no one better connects the world.’”
Delta’s resumption of the MSP-HND route follows the return of several other high-profile international destinations in the last year, including London in April of 2022, and Seoul, South Korea last October.
“MSP has a long history of connecting Minnesotans directly with the rest of the world, and I applaud Delta for offering a nonstop flight to Tokyo,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “We are proud to welcome visitors to Minnesota with one of the best airports in the nation.”
“We’re thankful that travel restrictions continue to lessen, creating more opportunities for international travel, especially to Japan,” said Rick King, Chair of the MAC. “The return of the Tokyo route fully restores service to Asia to pre-pandemic levels and supports the important leisure and business connections this brings to our region.”
Delta is operating the Tokyo route on Airbus A330-900neo aircraft with 281 seats across a variety of onboard experiences (Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin).
Delta is MSP’s largest global carrier, operating over 290 peak day flights to 115 destinations in March, with nonstop service to popular international destinations like Amsterdam, Paris, London, Seoul, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico City, Belize City and more. Delta also serves multiple cities in Canada from MSP including Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto.
The resumption of Tokyo service raises MSP’s pre-pandemic recovery rate of international routes to 90%.
About The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe who arrive or depart through MAC airports each year. Though a public corporation of the state of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit www.metroairports.org.
