US carriers win China routes

US Airways and United Airlines have both been awarded routes to China by the US department of transportation (DOT).

United Airlines states that it will be the first American carrier to offer a daily, non-stop service between San Francisco and Guangzhou when flights begin in spring 2008.

This will bring to six the total number of daily flights offered by United to China, with other connections available to Shanghai from Chicago and San Francisco and transfers to Beijing departing from San Francisco, Chicago and Washington DC.

Glenn Tilton, chairman of the company, said: "United Airlines is honoured to be selected as the first US carrier to provide non-stop service between San Francisco and Guangzhou."

US Airways will begin flying to Beijing from its hub in Philadelphia in 2009 using wide-bodied Airbus A340 aircraft.

Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of the airline, said it was "extremely honoured" by the DOT's decision to award the carrier the China service.

US Airways serves 19 million customers a year at its Philadelphia hub, with 417 daily flights to 111 destinations all over the world.

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