Friday, June 5, 1998 | 10:32 a.m.
Six years after the end of World War II, President Harry Truman asked executives of Northwest Airlines to provide technical expertise, training and equipment to develop an airline for Japan's post-war economy.
Northwest had the expertise -- in 1947, it inaugurated scheduled flights between the United States and Tokyo. In July of that year, Northwest also served Seoul, Shanghai and Manila from the United States through Tokyo.
The result of Northwest's efforts within the nation was Japan Airlines, which was established in 1951 and now is that nation's largest international carrier, with the most landing slots at Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
Northwest Airlines' reward for helping develop JAL was to be in the best position of American air carriers serving the Japanese market when aviation treaties were drawn. It's now the No. 2 carrier at Narita. Northwest and United Airlines have been the only U.S. carriers with access to Japan and the important "beyond" rights giving them the right to carry passengers between Tokyo and other Pacific Rim destinations.
Under long-time treaties with Japan, Northwest and United were the primary American carriers serving Japan while JAL and All Nippon Airlines were the Japanese airlines allowed to fly to U.S. gateways. Destination cities in both countries were restricted by the treaty.
Last year, a revised aviation treaty changed that. The new liberalized agreement allowed more carriers into the game and opened the doors to more cities. While not an "open skies agreement" allowing unlimited access of all airlines to all cities, the pact opened the door just enough to let Las Vegas in.
In April, Northwest announced plans to initiate nonstop flights between Tokyo and McCarran International Airport and the first Boeing 747 touched down in Southern Nevada on Monday with 200 passengers aboard.
Next week, the doorway Northwest opened a crack may swing open in what could be a significant advancement in Las Vegas tourism.
Gov. Bob Miller, who left this week for Japan, will meet next week with representatives of eight airlines in Japan and Taiwan in a bid to further develop nonstop travel between Asia and Las Vegas.
The bid to bolster nonstop flights to and from Asia comes at a critical time in the city's evolution. With 20,000 rooms coming on line within the next three years, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is counting on international travelers and convention traffic to fill a healthy percentage of those rooms.
Other businesses also are optimistic about the prospects of more flights. The Nevada Development Authority and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, which supported the bid to attract more flights through a group called Las Vegas Parties, look at the additional service as an opportunity to develop nongaming interests as well as tourism. A growing Asian Chamber of Commerce expects to be a beneficiary as well as the business- and culture-driven Japan America Society of Nevada.
Even air tour operators offering flights over the Southwest's national parks -- discouraged by what they consider to be overregulation of airspace at Grand Canyon National Park -- are applauding the efforts to tap Japan because many of their customers are Japanese.
While an estimated 311,000 Japanese visitors came to Las Vegas in 1996 -- Las Vegas' largest overseas market -- Northwest's market beyond Tokyo and an aviation environment that encourages the development of strategic alliances and partnerships should mean even bigger dividends in tourism. Northwest recently signed an agreement with Air China giving it access to one of the most lucrative markets in the world.
When Miller calls on airline executives next week, he'll be seeing details and commitments that have been speculated on and promised for months. Miller will meet with All Nippon and JAL executives as well as leaders from Northwest, American, United and Delta.
It's been widely speculated that JAL will announce a nonstop flight to Las Vegas during Miller's visit. Some aviation experts say JAL will provide a nonstop flight to Las Vegas, but will make the return a one-stop affair in Los Angeles to give the airline one more trans-Pacific flight drawing from Southern California's huge population base.
JAL officials in New York would not confirm a Las Vegas flight, but McCarran officials have been negotiating airport space with the Tokyo-based airline. U.S. Department of Transportation officials said the aviation treaty between the United States and Japan doesn't require JAL to disclose where it intends to fly.
On Wednesday, the scene will shift to Taipei, where Miller will meet with leaders of EVA Airlines and China Airlines, the national carrier for the breakaway island nation of Taiwan.
Miller will complete his trip with a dinner with Northwest's Taipei staff, bringing the Asian goodwill trip full circle.
Also joining Miller on trip will be state Sen. William Raggio, R-Reno; Las Vegas Councilman Arnie Adamsen; Thomas Tate, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism; Brenda Hughes, the commission's international sales manager; and Harry Kassap, manager of air service development for McCarran.
Several business executives will accompany Miller including Michael Gasta, senior vice president for Hilton Gaming; Bob Jitchaku, representing the Japan America Society of Nevada; Michael Mecca, vice president and general manager of Circus Circus Enterprises' Mandalay Bay; and John Waihee, an attorney representing Circus Circus and a former governor of Hawaii. Waihee, a personal friend of Miller's, helped get JAL service to Hawaii when he was governor and introduced Miller to airline executives.
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