Do I really have to explain WHY overflying the NRT hub is bad for the NRT operation?

Overflying the hub means the hub is no longer viable. Less O&D traffic, less flights, less jobs for DL pilots. We essentially lose the 5th freedom rights we paid for, and get nothing in return except relegated to a bit player in the Pacific.

I'll give you an example. Over the past few years, we've flown the 777, 747, and A330 from NRT to MNL. Even considered an extra section 757 before the tsunami. If we could make money flying from the mainland to the Phillipines, we'd be doing it now. We can't. What we CAN do is make money flying Tokyo to the Phillippines. If we get shut out of HND and they give the slots to the Japanese carriers or to UAL, then it's goodbye to that revenue and those jobs. Anybody on a DL ticket can connect on KAL if they need to get there, but otherwise, we won't fly it. THAT is why the statement about overflying NRT gives me the chills.