Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) CEO Richard Anderson says his airline's plans to switch its Tokyo operations from Tokyo Narita to the more centrally located and appealing Tokyo Haneda have been impeded by the Japanese government whom he accused of favouring local carriers "such as JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) and ANA - All Nippon Airways (NH, Tokyo Haneda)" at foreign carrier's expense. He called on the Japanese government to liberalize its skies. Haneda had announced it would be adding 42 daytime slots for long distance flights in the spring of 2014, of which Delta is said to have been looking for 25. The Japanese government, however, claims the lack of slots allocated the US carrier are a result of limited capacity and not protectionism. "Slots in Haneda are extremely valuable because it draws so many travelers so naturally, it's very competitive," said Yoshihisa Akai, head of research at Japan Aviation Management Research. "With so much competition as is, it's unlikely Delta will be able to get all the slots it wants."