September 28, 2009
Bringing Portland to Amsterdam, Tokyo and Beyond
As someone in the travel business, it’s easy for me to tell you how important it is to have air service that connects Portland to the rest of the country and the world. After all, I make my living helping folks with their business and vacation travel arrangements.
Sho Dozono, Azumano Travel
Our new consul general from Japan asked me recently what has changed most in Portland in the past 50 years. I answered that it is the increase in international trade that has brought Portland and the surrounding economy into the 21st-century global economy. Intel, Nike, Columbia Sportswear, adidas, Vestas, Solar World and so many other global companies are vital to our economy. One of the most important factors that enables these companies to locate in our region is our connectivity, both domestic and international.
One factor that is critical to keeping and growing our economy is our nonstop service to Asia and Europe. Having this service is like having an interstate highway instead of a two-lane country road connecting us to the rest of the world. We lost our only nonstop international flight in 2001 when Delta halted its daily Portland-Tokyo service. The loss was a devastating blow to our economy. Since that time, we have been fortunate to regain Delta’s daily nonstop to Tokyo, and that same flight connects us to 12 other Asian cities. Delta also has added new daily service to Amsterdam that connects us to more than 50 cities in Europe and beyond.
On a more personal note, I am able to take advantage of these flights to visit Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Bangkok. One of my dreams is to travel with my grandson to these cities and others – London, Paris, Prague and Vienna.
We must all support our nonstop service and keep our regional economy fully engaged in the global marketplace or we will lose this convenience and connectivity. If you are traveling to Asia or Europe, fly nonstop from PDX and do your part to keep our economy healthy.
Blogging is new to me, but I’m doing it to tell you how important it is to Fly Nonstop. I do.
Sho Dozono
Co-Chair, International Air Service Committee
President & CEO, Azumano Travel
Photo credit: Tokyo Tower, MR+G
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Larry Taylor posted on October 1, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I fly to Japan 12-20 times each year, however, I never fly out of Portland on Delta/Northwest. Delta Airlines is a terrible airline to fly on and for a couple of hundred dollars more, I can fly to San Francisco/Los Angeles/Chicago and fly on All Nippon Airways (ANA) or Japan Airlines (JAL). The Service on ANA or JAL is far superior to anything Delta can offer and I would just as soon seen Delta leave the Portland Market all together so that ANA or JAL could begin flying there. ANA has purchased 60 Boeing 787’s with the plans to fly them to smaller US Cities and offer exceptional travel experiences on their airline. Delta will never get my international business, nor will it see a dime of revenue from my consultants who also fly ANA or JAL. Being stuck in the air with Delta Flight Attendants who seem to have forgotten what it means to render good customer service for 11 hours on planes that are filthy and food that is garbage isn’t my idea of a good investment in airfare. ANA and JAL’s coach class service is even better than Delta’s Business Elite for just a few dollars more. If you want to truly build a world class service to Asia, start courting ANA, JAL, Singapore and Korean and do all that you can to kick Delta out of the Portland international market. They are a crap airline that deserves to fail..
Diane Zielke posted on October 1, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Great blog Sho! Your support for the Delta international flights here at PDX over the past 20+ years is much appreciated by all. I hope your dreams come true in the years ahead to fly overseas on a Delta flight with your grandchildren.
Diane