Airlines are invited to file applications for new passenger air service between the United States and China as the U.S. Department of Transportation announced. The six new flights are part of an…
Airlines are invited to file applications for new passenger air service between the United States and China as the U.S. Department of Transportation announced. The six new flights are part of an agreement negotiated by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters last May to more than double the number of daily passenger flights between the two countries by 2012.
“We’re moving quickly so the selected carriers can begin planning their new services as soon as possible,” Secretary Peters said.
The Secretary said the Department expects to select two additional U.S. passenger carriers to begin daily service to China, one for this year and one beginning in March 2009. In addition, DOT will permit a carrier already serving China to begin a new daily nonstop passenger flight to Guangzhou in 2008. The Department also will award three daily passenger flights to Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou, by March 2009, to carriers already serving the market.
The Department has adopted a streamlined approach for the proceeding designed to speed up the review process, Peters noted. Carrier applications will be due July 2 if no petitions to reconsider today’s order are filed. If anyone files a petition for reconsideration, applications will be due July 16.
Current passenger carriers flying between the United States and China are United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines.
When fully implemented, the new agreement will allow for a total of 13 new daily passenger flights operated by U.S. carriers to and from China by 2012.
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