Mayor John Hickenlooper will lead a delegation of city officials and local business leaders to Japan this month as part of an ongoing effort to win All Nippon Airways nonstop service between Tokyo and Denver International Airport.

ANA plans to be the first customer for Boeing's new 787 jet, and the Japanese carrier is expected to serve at least two U.S. cities with the widebody.

Boeing's delivery of the first 787 aircraft has been delayed. DIA officials think 2011 is the earliest that ANA could start Denver service with the new aircraft, if DIA wins the flight, said Sally Covington, the airport's marketing chief.

Officials from DIA and the Colorado business community have been working on securing the Tokyo-Denver nonstop for years.

One advantage for ANA is that of all U.S. markets without current nonstop service from Tokyo, Denver has the largest network of flights to U.S. destinations, Covington said.

Other major cities without such service include Phoenix; Philadelphia; Las Vegas; and Orlando, Fla., DIA's analysis shows.