American Airlines, Continental receive 'tentative' approval for new China routes
Beijing (XFN-ASIA) - American Airlines and Continental Airlines
both announced that they have received "tentative" approval to open
In a statement, American Airlines said the US Department of Transportation has tentatively awarded rights for a service between Chicago O'Hare and Beijing, starting in March 2009, the same month Continental said it hopes to launch flights between New York/Newark and Shanghai.
The airlines' statements follow announcements by Delta, United Airlines and US Airways, who all confirmed they have been awarded China routes.
Delta will fly from Atlanta to Shanghai from March next year, while United's service between San Francisco and Guangzhou will also start next Spring.
US Airways will use Airbus A340 widebody aircraft for flights from its Philadelphia hub to Beijing, starting in 2009.