Shanghai Skyline
Final rights for US carriers to start and add China services in 2009 have been awarded by the American Department of Transportation (DOT).
US Airways will be allowed to start China flights between Philadelphia and Beijing, while American, Continental and Northwest will add a new daily flight to their existing services.
American will start Chicago-Beijing; Continental will begin Newark New York-Shanghai and Northwest, Detroit-Shanghai. All 2009 services must begin on or about, 25 March next year.
Further awards will see Delta Air Lines serve Shanghai from Atlanta and United from San Francisco to Guangzhou this spring. The west coast US city has the largest Chinese-American population in the US, while Guangzhou has the third most populated city in China.
”We are taking every opportunity to make it easier to do business and more convenient to stay connected with one of our largest trading partners,” said US Secretary of Transportation Mary E Peters.
”These new direct routes will provide more options for both business and leisure passengers travelling between the US and China.”
Daily flights between the two countries are expected to double during the next five years, as China”s economic boom shows no sign of slowing.