Denver To Tokyo Direct Flights Set To Begin March 2013 Via United Airlines

Domo arigato, Mr... uh, Mayor Hancock?

We aren't sure who, exactly, to thank (the list likely spans a couple decades), but as first reported by Airline Route, a direct Denver to Tokyo flight should grace DIA beginning March 31 of 2013.

The Airline Route report indicates a long flight will be handled by Boeing's new fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with approximately 42 Business First seats, 87 Economy Plus seats, and 96 Economy Class seats.

According to the Denver Post, the flight will depart Denver at 11:55 a.m. and arrive in Tokyo at 3:00 p.m., making for a flight time of just over 12 hours. The return flight will be shorter -- around 11 hours.

United Airlines announced the route at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, informing media outlets of a press conference "to unveil a major development for aviation in Denver." CBS Denver confirmed via twitter:

According to the Denver Business Journal, a DIA-Asia flight could generate $130 million a year in local economic impact. The paper believes a direct flight was a "key factor" in the relocation of Arrow Electronics, a Fortune 500 company, from New York to Colorado in late 2011.

The airport celebrated its first direct flight from Denver to Iceland May 11.