With the new service to Tokyo, United became a true intercontinental airline, previously having served only Canada and Mexico. In early 1978, President Carter approved a Civil Aeronautics Board order awarding United its first overseas route — Seattle / Portland nonstop to Tokyo. Japan had been the exclusive domain of Northwest Airlines since the 1950s. The Japanese, who had requested talks with the U.S. for the purpose of renegotiating the 1951 air transport agreement, wished to reduce U.S. route rights and expand Japan’s. They therefore refused to permit United to serve Tokyo. Talks continued until early 1982 but failed to resolve the differences. Finally, in June 1982, President Reagan, attending a “summit” meeting in Paris, and the Japanese Premier agreed on an interim civil aviation pact which provided for, among other things, permission for United to begin service to Tokyo in April 1983.

The initial Tokyo flight on April 2, 1983 originated in Chicago, stopped at Seattle and continued nonstop to Tokyo arriving April 3 after crossing the International Date Line.

The airline applied an unofficial cachet, similar to the official USPS cachet, to the Tokyo covers that it handled. Some Tokyo covers received the standard Haneda Airport supplemental pictorial cancellation.

This cover was carried on the inaugural United Airlines flight from Tokyo, Japan to Chicago, Illinois (where it was backstamped) and is listed in The American Air Mail Catalogue as UA-F196.