Delta Air Lines is upbeat about its business in Japan as new routes and the surging yen boost travel and help along the recovery in the industry, a top executive said Thursday.

Delta, the world's biggest airline, is investing more than $1 billion in its global operations through 2013, and the robust results from its Japan business underline the soundness of such investments, Delta President Edward Bastian told reporters at a Tokyo hotel.

"Our goal in Asia is to be the carrier of choice for both Asian as well as American customers," he said. "We have seen significant improvement in our outbound travel."