Cites "Extraordinary Adverse Market" As Reason For Delay

It wasn't that long ago that American Airlines lobbied hard for the Department of Transportation to award a lucrative route to Beijing to the Fort Worth, TX-based carrier... but alas, that was then, and this is now.

On Monday, American filed a request with the DOT for a waiver that will allow it to begin nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Beijing, China, on April 4, 2010 -- one year later than planned.

The DOT announced its approval for American's plan to start new flights to China on December 29 of last year. Continental Airlines and Northwest also received permission to launch their own flights to China at that time.

In the request, American cited the "extraordinary adverse market and operating conditions affecting the entire airline industry." The airline also noted other US awarded routes to China have been granted authorization by DOT to defer start-up, suspend service or operate frequencies on a seasonal basis, due to "the unprecedented level in the price of fuel and general economic conditions."

As ANN reported in May, United Airlines and US Airways won approval from the DOT to postpone starting their new routes to China for at least a year, due to high fuel prices.

FMI: www.aa.com, www.dot.gov