Delta, other airlines put Japan expansion on hold

Even as airlines added extra flights to get people out of Tokyo, their long-term plans for expansion have been thrown into doubt.

Delta Air Lines Inc. says it will suspend its new flights to Tokyo's Haneda airport beginning next week. Singapore Airlines had planned to put the Airbus A380 on a flight from Singapore to Tokyo to Los Angeles later this month. But that flight will continue to be served by a Boeing 747 until further notice.

United Continental Holdings Inc., the biggest U.S. carrier to Asia, isn't cutting flights but is monitoring the situation. Both United and Delta use Tokyo's Narita airport as a hub for flights further into Asia.

Many airlines are adding flights as people heed warnings from foreign governments to leave quake-stricken Japan.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)