[photopress:China_Eastern_Airlines.jpg,full,alignright]Chinese and U.S. Government negotiators have reached an agreement to increase the number of passenger flights between the two countries, including the award of an additional non-stop flight from the U.S. to China by August. The pact also calls for adding 13 new flights through 2012, up from three by 2010, and lifts some restrictions on cargo flights.
An executive speaking for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said, ‘We will almost certainly see an increase in the frequencies and routes to the New York metro area as this thing unfolds.’
Currently, domestic carriers make 19 daily trips between U.S. cities and China. Continental Airlines has a daily Newark-to-Beijing flight, and China Eastern Airlines flies nonstop from New York to Shanghai. (Our illustration is of a hostess on China Eastern.)
Continental had lobbied hard to win a Newark to Shanghai non-stop flight, but lost its bid in January when the Department of Transportation awarded the 2007 route to United Airlines’ Washington, D.C.-to-Beijing service. The new agreement gives the Houston-based airline another chance.
The agreement also opens up U.S. airports to smaller Chinese carriers, which haven’t been able to win one of the limited designations and who will now have the opportunity to try for the U.S. market.
Source: New York Business
You must log in to post a comment.