I would admit I am prejudice in this - "BUT" the use it or lose it Rule should apply to American as it was with Delta.
Hawaiian should have a crack at it next but the way the Regulators have awarded it any which way who ever flys
the route is going to be plagued with a routing that does not make a favorable monetary return all because the agreements
made with the Japanese government favor the home country airline (Japan) with time slots that people really want
to fly and not the meager Red-Eye express with little or no chance of connecting traffic. Our own Regulators let us
down on this deal yielding favor treatment to Japan Airlines. Sad note that American who is a JAL partner could not
come up with something since ousting Delta. Hawaiian if you get this route 'Good Luck' ! If American keeps the
route the competition at LAX is going to be AAs undoing.
Probably will not matter in the future when China gears up Japan will not be needed as a connection point and will
become just a origin/destination point which is what Haneda is and not worth the fight if the timing and slots are
ill timed - "An airplane does make money sitting on the ground nor flying empty for its stockholders".
As more fuel efficient long range aircraft are introduced the need for a stop in Japan will be history.

At least Delta has all the agreements awarded to Northwest (Orient) Airlines to service the Asian perimeter ring
but as I commented before China the sleeping Lion holds all the big cards for the future - only a matter of time.