British Airways and American Airlines have both started flights to the new terminal at Tokyo Haneda International Airport – strengthening the leading position of the oneworld airline alliance at Asia’s newest international hub.

Both airlines’ inaugural services from the Japanese capital’s newly expanded gateway departed within minutes of one another on the morning of February 20, local time.

British Airways is operating Haneda’s only route to the UK, serving the airport an initial five times a week non-stop from its London Heathrow hub, in addition to its established daily Tokyo Narita schedule.

American Airlines is now offering the only flights between Tokyo Haneda and New York, with its daily JFK schedule complementing Japan Airlines’ established service between Haneda and San Francisco. Both services carry the codes of both airlines.

With Japan Airlines serving Paris Charles de Gaulle from Tokyo Haneda since October, oneworld was already the only alliance with airlines connecting the Japanese airport with Europe. Now its airlines offer a choice of two European routes.