United and Northwest joined the
competition for the right to offer new service to China, which
means four airlines are now vying for Transportation Dept.
approval.
The DOT can award
up to seven weekly flights -- or one daily -- to Beijing, Shanghai
or Guangzhou beginning March 25 to U.S. carriers already serving
the U.S.-China market, under the terms of the new U.S.-China
aviation agreement.
United filed an
application with the DOT Aug. 17 seeking approval for its proposal
to offer daily flights between its Washington (Dulles) hub and
Beijing. Northwest filed the same day for daily flights between its
Detroit hub and Shanghai.
Two other
airlines already had applied for the new rights: Continental for
daily service between Newark and Shanghai, and American for daily
service between Dallas/Forth Worth and Beijing.
Under the
timetable for the route authority proceeding, it will be months
before the DOT makes it decision.
To contact reporter Andrew Compart, send e-mail to [email protected].