It has been reported that the U. S. Transportation Department Friday proposed awarding four routes to Tokyo's downtown Haneda airport to American, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines.

The routes, negotiated in December through the U. S.-Japan Open Skies Agreement, would go to American Airlines at New York, Delta Air Lines at Los Angeles and Detroit, and Hawaiian Airlines at Honolulu.

U. S. carriers, previously, were restricted to Narita Airport, about 36 miles east of Tokyo.

The department said that Hawaiian Airlines currently does not serve Japan, and its addition would add a new competitor to the U. S. market.

It was also reported that the department will issue its final decision after a 17-day comment period. The routes would be awarded once Haneda's fourth runway goes into operation in October, and the carriers would be required to begin flying to Haneda by Jan. 29, 2011. (With Inputs from Agencies)