China approves Shanghai Airlines cargo routes to Anchorage, Los Angeles
BEIJING (XFNews) - The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said it has given Shanghai Airlines Co (SHA 600591) approval to operate cargo flights between Shanghai, Anchorage, and Los Angeles from next August.
In a statement, the CAAC said it has also given cargo carrier Yangtze River Express, permission to operate the same routes from November this year.
This is the first time Chinese airlines have been approved to open a new China-US air route since the two countries signed an air transportation deal in July 2004, it said in a statement.
The CAAC said four domestic airlines - Air China Ltd (HK 0753), China Eastern Airlines Corp, China Southern Airlines Co and China Cargo Airlines -- currently operate China-US routes.
State media reported earlier that Shanghai Airlines plans to use MD 11F planes to operate four flights a week on the route.
Yangtze River Express is a wholly-owned unit of China's Hainan Airlines Group, which also owns Hainan Airlines Co (SHA 600221).