Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has filed an objection with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to American Airlines' request for a year-long stay on the launch of Los Angeles Int'l-Beijing Capital, China, flights.

In a filing submitted earlier this month, American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) said it could not fulfill the DOT's requirement that it initiate the route by March 16, 2017, citing a lack of slots allocated to it by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It, therefore, requested to be granted an extension of either one-year from its original March 16, 2017, deadline or within 90 days of American obtaining commercially viable slots at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), whichever occurs first.

However, Delta filed an objection on February 23 wherein it accused American of lacking seriousness insofar as the route's launch is concerned. It also argued that the requested extension would further deny the traveling public the benefits these "valuable" frequencies entail.

Delta questioned why American failed to premise its commitment to the DOT on the allocation of Beijing slots despite acknowledging that US carriers face difficulties in adding routes to China's two largest cities.

It further claimed that American's application to use the vacant Beijing slots was filed in haste to its own original application in March 2016. It argued that while American states that it had begun the process of securing Beijing slots, it only did so well after the annual IATA slot conference. It, therefore, questioned how American could then justify requesting a start-up extension.

"...the circumstances cited by American were foreseeable, the requested delay is unduly long, and there was a competitive proceeding in which a competing carrier was and remains willing and able to begin the service in a timely fashion," Delta said.

Delta, therefore, requested the DOT deny American’s proposed extension, or at least significantly limit its duration, and assign Delta back-up authority. As an alternative, the DOT was asked to revoke American’s award and re-allocate the frequencies to Delta.