Decision Finalizes Early Proposal

The DOT, making final part of a February 22nd proposed decision, Thursday confirmed Continental Airlines as a new entrant in the US-China air market and awarded the carrier seven weekly passenger flights for rights that will become available on March 25 for a new daily trip between Newark, NJ, and Beijing.

The new rights were made available by the U.S.-China aviation agreement signed July 24, 2004 in Beijing by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Chinese Minister of Civil Aviation Yang Yuanyuan. The new agreement provides for an increase in weekly US-China flights for each country’s carriers from 54 to 249 over six years.

In its proposed decision, the Department also tentatively awarded US-China rights to several other airlines that become available March 25, 2006, including a proposal to name American Airlines as a new entrant in the China market next year with approval to operate seven weekly passenger flights.

The department also would award three all-cargo flights each to current US-China carriers FedEx, Northwest, Polar Air Cargo and UPS. The Department will issue a separate order addressing its proposals for next year’s services soon.

Last year, the Department named Polar Air Cargo as the first new-entrant carrier under the agreement, and awarded additional flights to incumbent carriers United Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Federal Express (FedEx) and United Parcel Service (UPS).

FMI: www.dot.gov