Hawaiian Airlines, which has been seeking opportunities to expand internationally, is going head to head with the nation's four largest carriers in applying for two of the four coveted spots to serve Tokyo's Haneda International Airport from the United States.

The Honolulu-based carrier's proposed twice-daily flights would start in late October if approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Hawaiian said the new service would boost the state's tourism industry by stimulating revenue and job growth and supporting new and existing businesses in the state.

A new open-skies treaty reached in December between the U.S. and Japan opened four slots at Haneda, which primarily had been a domestic airport. Its downtown Tokyo location is more attractive to business travelers than Narita International Airport, which is 44 miles away, and would allow carriers to charge a premium for fares.

“;We think our chances are pretty good (on getting two of the slots) based on the fact we think we have the best argument,”; Hawaiian President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Dunkerley said. “;There are just four routes to be distributed to U.S. airlines. We are the only airline among the applicants that doesn't serve Japan today. It's clearly in the U.S. public interest to foster competition, and competition between the U.S. and Japan is best served by awarding us what we've applied for.”;

Hawaiian faces stiff competition, however.

Delta Airlines, the world's largest carrier, has applied for a Haneda flight from Honolulu, as well as from Detroit, Los Angeles and Seattle. American Airlines is proposing service from Los Angeles and New York's Kennedy Airport. United Airlines wants to fly to Haneda from San Francisco, while Continental Airlines filed a joint application with its Continental Micronesia unit for routes between Haneda and New Jersey's Newark Liberty airport as well as from Guam.

Airlines were asked to rank their cities in order of importance, and Dunkerley pointed out that Delta ranked Honolulu as the least important out of its four requested routes.

“;In other words, what they're saying is if 100 percent of the U.S. applications are given to one airline, Honolulu would be their last choice,”; Dunkerley said. “;What we're saying is our No. 1 priority is Honolulu and our No. 2 priority is Honolulu. I think that speaks volumes about our commitment and contribution to the community.”;

Both of Hawaiian's proposed daily flights would depart Haneda shortly before midnight and arrive in Honolulu around noon the same day. The return flights would both depart Honolulu around 6:45 p.m. and arrive at Haneda around 10 p.m. the next day. (Tokyo is 19 hours ahead of Honolulu, and the flight crosses the international date line.)

Hawaiian plans to serve the Honolulu-Tokyo route with its 264-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and new 294-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the first three of which will join the fleet in April, May and November of this year.

Hawaiian's last foray overseas was in April 2008 when it began service to Manila.