Travelore News: US And China Agree To Double Airline Flights Between Them

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and China have agreed to double the number of airline flights that each other’s airlines can operate between the countries, from four to eight per week.

The deal marks a further easing of a standoff between the world’s two biggest economies over travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic.

The U.S. Transportation Department announced the increase Tuesday, saying that China’s aviation authority decided this week to permit expanded flights by United and Delta.

Shortly after the announcement, Chicago-based United Airlines said it will go from two to four flights per week between San Francisco and Shanghai via Seoul, starting Sept. 4.

The Transportation Department said Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is also eligible to increase its two weekly flights to four. Delta did not comment immediately.

Chinese airlines that already fly to the United States — Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines — will be allowed to make eight weekly round-trips instead of four, the department said.

The Transportation Department repeated its hope that China will agree to fully restore the treaty rights of U.S. airlines to serve China, but called the most recent increase in flying “a step in the right direction.”

In early January, there were more than 300 flights per week between the two countries, but that number nosedived after the pandemic undercut demand for international air travel. United, Delta and American Airlines suspended flights to China by mid-March.

Travelore News: US Will Allow Limited Flights By Chinese Airlines, Not A Ban

The Trump administration said Friday it will let Chinese airlines operate a limited number of flights to the U.S., backing down from a threat to ban the flights.

The decision came one day after China appeared to open the door to U.S. carriers United Airlines and Delta Air Lines resuming one flight per week each into the country.

The Transportation Department said it will let Chinese passenger airlines fly a combined total of two round-trip flights per week between the U.S. and China, which it said would equal the number of flights that China’s aviation authority will allow for U.S. carriers.

Delta praised the U.S. government for trying to “ensure fairness and access to China.” United said it was reviewing the matter. Neither said whether the latest development in the dispute between the two countries would affect their plans. Both had hoped to offer more flights.

MORE STORIES:

• – China easing airline access amid conflict with Washington
• – Delta, American and United suspend flights between US, China
• – Trump administration moves to block Chinese airlines from US

The Transportation Department said it might further ease restrictions if China does the same. Officials are concerned, however, about conditions China is imposing that could affect whether U.S. airlines resume their flights. Those requirements include taking temperatures of all passengers in mid-flight and suspending an airline’s future flights if five or more passengers test positive for the coronavirus after arriving in China.

China’s embassy in Washington did not respond to messages seeking comment.

The dispute between Washington and Beijing over airline service has been building for weeks and is part of broader trade and diplomatic tension between the world’s two biggest economies.

In early January, there were more than 300 flights per week between the two countries, but international carriers reduced and then stopped flying to China as the coronavirus pandemic devastated demand for air travel. United, Delta and American Airlines suspended flights to China before mid-March.

Chinese airlines reduced but didn’t eliminate their flights to the U.S. They ran about 20 flights per week in February, 34 by mid-March. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines continue flying those routes.

Travel in both China and the U.S. has partly recovered in the past two months, although it remains far below 2019 levels. In May, Chicago-based United and Atlanta-based Delta petitioned China to resume flights there, but received no response.

The Trump administration protested that China’s refusal to grant access to U.S. airlines was unfair. The Transportation Department announced Wednesday that it would prohibit all passenger airline flights from China no later than June 16.

On Thursday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said it would let more foreign airlines fly to China starting next week as anti-coronavirus controls are eased.

The order did not identify airlines, but it appeared to limit United and Delta to one flight per week because they stopped flying to China before mid-March. American, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, does not plan to return to China before October.

The air-service spat escalated against a backdrop of a long-running trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Washington has also criticized China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak and treatment of Hong Kong. Chinese officials fired back this week by highlighting civil unrest and racial discrimination in the U.S.

By DAVID KOENIG

China’s Flag Carrier, Air China, Halts Flights To North Korea

China’s flag carrier, Air China, halted flights from Beijing to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, from late on Friday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

It did not say why the flights, which operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, were being suspended.

Air China is the only Chinese airline that provides flights to North Korea.

The last flight between the two cities took place on Friday, with the return flight to Beijing arriving in the early evening, the broadcaster said.

Air China had been operating three weekly round-trip flights between Chinese and North Korean capital cities, but service had become sporadic in recent months.

Air China began regular flights between the two countries in 2008 but the flights were frequently cancelled because of unspecified problems.

Travelers Can Now Fly Direct (Non-Stop) Between Beijing & Montréal

Earlier this year, Air Canada and Air China made a major announcement that brought Montréal closer to Asia: a direct flight between Montréal and Beijing. Although currently operated by Air China, tickets will also be offered through Air Canada’s booking portal as the first step of a broader partnership. The inaugural flight takes to the skies on September 29 (2015).

SISTER PACT

The new route goes beyond simply providing more options for travelers. The local airport authority (formally known as Aéroports de Montréal) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Beijing Capital International Airport Co. Ltd. (BCIA) to establish of a “sister airport” partnership. With this agreement, the two airport authorities will strengthen co-operation and share best practices. Sounds like a win-win!

BEIJING’LE BELLE ROCK!

This new Montréal-Beijing route is great for a variety of factors. Here are five of our tops reasons why the route is a game changer.

Chinese tourist spending is beyond big. According to a report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 174 million Chinese tourists will spend a record $264 billion by 2019. More than ever, Montréal will be recognized as a destination for accessible and direct tourism. That means huge economic potential for the city.

More Montréal meetings. A direct flight from China to Montréal will inevitably increase the likelihood of Chinese companies selecting our city as a strategic meeting destination. Montréal makes an ideal middle ground (geographically and politically) for international stakeholders from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Opportunities for Montréal startups. Direct flights mean easier access, and easier access means more business opportunities. Companies in the city will be able to use the connection with Beijing as a gateway for all their activities in Asia. We’re curious to see how the new route will impact our already-booming startup scene — stay tuned!

Family ties. With over 100,000 Chinese Canadians living in the province of Québec, the direct route makes it easier than ever to connect with family and friends in China.

Weekends in Beijing. As of 2013, tourists from 45 countries (including Canada) are permitted a 72-hour visa-free stay in Beijing. A direct flight means Montréalers travelling for either business or leisure can literally take a three-day weekend in Beijing without the hassle of time-crunching layovers. That means less time in transit and more time on the ground for local experiences.

You Can Book A Flight From NYC To Asia Right Now For Under $600

Getty

Visit Bangkok, Thailand for under $500

Air China is offering bargains on many popular routes between the United States and Asia.

Great news! If you've been considering a trip to Asia this fall, Air China just unveiled a round of airfare deals from major cities in the United States. Some of those routes include Los Angeles to Hong Kong for $564, Los Angeles to Bangkok for $475, San Francisco to New Delhi for $415, San Francisco to Seoul for $631, and New York City to Taipei for $607.

Source: www.cntraveler.com

Air China Launches Third Daily Nonstop Los Angeles - Beijing Service

Air China officials and China-bound passengers at Tom Bradley International Terminal welcomed the arrival of the inaugural flight of the airline’s third daily nonstop service from Beijing (CA 887) at 9 a.m. PDT today. China’s national flag carrier is also celebrating today the first day of the relocation of its airport operations from Terminal 2 to the Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) bigger and newly renovated Tom Bradley International Terminal.

“The increase in connectivity between Los Angeles and Beijing offers travelers more flexibility and convenient options. More important, it will increase the bilateral trade between the USA and China and increase cultural ties between the world’s two largest economies,” Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President for North America, stated.

Every daily round-trip international flight on a wide-body aircraft at LAX generates $623 million annually. It also provides 3,120 local jobs to the regional economy, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.

All of Air China’s three Los Angeles (LAX)-Beijing (PEK) daily nonstop services are operated by the new generation B777-300ER. Air China is the only airline with a nonstop service between these two cities.

Featuring state of the art green technology, the B777-300ER delivers better fuel burn performance and is much quieter than any other aircraft. With a spacious three-cabin interior, ambient lighting and enhanced entertainment system, the B777-300ER provides transpacific passengers with a smooth, comfortable experience. Air China’s triple seven features eight luxury suites in the Forbidden Pavilion (first class), 41 fully-flat sleeper seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class) and 259 economy seats with individual TV monitors and in-seat audio-video demand.

Please refer to the chart below for details of Air China’s Los Angeles-Beijing services. Note: This is for reference only and the schedule may be subject to change. All times are local. *+1 = Next Day.

PEK-LAX CA887 12:00 9:00 B777-300 Daily
LAX-PEK CA888 11:30 15:10+1* B777-300 Daily
PEK-LAX CA987 15:00 12:00 B777-300 Daily
LAX-PEK CA988 14:20 18:00+1* B777-300 Daily
PEK-LAX CA983 21:00 18:00 B777-300 Daily
LAX-PEK CA984 1:40 05:20+1* B777-300 Daily

Air China offers nonstop services to Beijing from its seven gateways in North America: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington Dulles, Houston, Honolulu and Vancouver. In addition to Los Angeles, Air China is also the only airline with nonstop services to Beijing from New York and Houston. If offers double daily services from New York’s JFK International; daily services from Houston, Vancouver and San Francisco; four times weekly service from Washington Dulles and three times weekly from Honolulu to Beijing.

On Sept. 29, 2015, Air China will launch the three times weekly nonstop service between Beijing and Montreal. It will be the first transpacific direct link between these two cities. The new Montreal service will bring Air China’s number of gateways in North America to a total of eight.

Travelore News: Air China To Launch Beijing-Montreal Flights

BEIJING, China and MONTREAL, Canada - Air China and Air Canada said today they are preparing for the launch of non-stop flights between Beijing and Montreal that will create the first transpacific direct link between Asia and Montreal. The flights will be operated by Air China starting on September 29, 2015, initially three times a week, with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and Air Canada placing its code on the flights for sale on a codeshare basis in a first phase.

In the second phase, subject to requisite approvals by the relevant competition authorities, Air Canada and Air China intend to form a comprehensive revenue sharing joint venture in respect of all flights between China and Canada, which would ensure the long-term sustainability of the new Beijing-Montreal service.

With the launch of the non-stop Beijing-Montreal service, the Star Alliance carriers will offer convenient connections and seamless transfers for customers to other cities in China, Canada and the United States via their hubs in Beijing and Montreal.

As previously announced, Air China and Air Canada signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November 2014 in Beijing setting out the principles for an integrated revenue sharing joint venture. The MOU provides for an enhanced partnership on routes between China and Canada which is expected to stimulate traffic growth between the two countries and is subject to Air Canada and Air China making the necessary filings, obtaining competition and other regulatory approvals and finalizing documentation. The joint venture is expected to come into effect in the second half of 2015.

With the new Beijing-Montreal route, Air China will place its CA code on Air Canada flights between Montreal and select cities in Canada, subject to government approval.

Currently, Air China operates up to 11 flights per week between Beijing and Vancouver. Air Canada operates up to a total of 28 flights per week between Canada and China, from Toronto and Vancouver to and from Beijing and Shanghai.

Flight Information

Flight Departs Arrives Day of week
CA879 Beijing 13:00 Montreal 13:50 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
CA880 Montreal 16:20 Beijing 18:00 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday

Travelore News: Air China’s B747-8 Intercontinental Starts Serving San Francisco-Beijing Route

Air China’s B747-8i makes its US West Coast debut in San Francisco, replacing the new-generation B777-300ER used for the daily nonstop service between the City by the Bay and China’s capital, Beijing. A reception at the airport museum to celebrate the arrival of the inaugural flight of Air China’s B747-8i into San Francisco International Airport at 12:20 PM PDT today is hosted by the airline’s San Francisco team led by Ms. Litao Zhao, General Manager.

Joining Ms. Zhao are Consul General Luo Linquan of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco; Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President for North America; and Mr. Ivar Satero, Chief Operating Officer of the San Francisco International Airport.

“Upgrading our San Francisco (SFO)-Beijing (PEK) aircraft to the bigger, more fuel-efficient and environment-friendly B747-8i is a vote of confidence from our Beijing headquarters. We’re confident we are more than able to meet the growing demand for business and leisure travels between these two fabulous cities,” Dr. Chi said.

The B747-8i is the first and only aircraft in Air China’s fleet with a four-cabin configuration. It features 12 luxury suites in the Forbidden Pavilion (first class cabin), 54 fully-flat bed seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class), 66 premium economy seats and 233 in the economy cabin for a total of 365 seats.

The 180-degree fully-flat sleepers in the Capital Pavilion are split between the main deck and the entire upper deck, giving Air China’s guests an exclusive private space. Majority of the lie-flat bed seats are arranged in a staggered 2-2 configuration.

Seats in premium economy and economy cabins offer more legroom for maximum comfort. An enhanced entertainment system offers a wide array of user-friendly features, including mobile app icons and a sliding touch control.

Premium economy seats offer eight inches more legroom (40 inches) than economy seats. In addition to priority boarding, premium economy passengers are offered a welcome drink, hot towels, slippers and many other inflight amenities for more convenience.

Air China’s B747-8i is also the first to sport the company’s new cabin interior which depicts three traditional Chinese cultural elements that represent the harmonious unity of heaven, earth and sky.

Below is the schedule for Air China’s service between San Francisco and Beijing on board the B747-8i.

Flight # Origin-Destination Departure* Arrival* Frequency
CA 986 San Francisco-Beijing 2:50 PM 5:55 PM+1** Daily
CA 985 Beijing-San Francisco 3:40 PM 12:20 PM Daily

*All times are local. The schedule above is for reference only and may be subject to change.
**+1 means next day

Travelore News: Air China Adds New Flights To Its Beijing-Milan, Beijing-Paris Routes

As the largest carrier between China and Europe, Air China has long been committed to building a Europe-wide network and in 2015, the carrier will continue to add capacity to its China-Europe routes.

Starting March 29, Air China will increase its Beijing-Milan services to daily, and starting June 1, it will increase its Beijing-Paris services to twice daily. These new flights will further meet the growing market demand and offer more convenient flight options to passengers, making travel to and fromEurope much easier.

The new flight numbers on the Beijing-Milan route are CA949/50. The outbound flight departs Beijing at 13:30 and arrives in Milan at 19:00 local time; the return flight leavesMilan at 21:00 local time and arrives in Beijing at 13:30 the following day. The new flight numbers on the Beijing-Paris route are CA875/6. The outbound flight departsBeijing at 02:05 and arrives in Paris at 07:25 local time; the return flight leaves Paris at 14:10 local time and arrives in Beijing at 06:30 the following day.

The two routes are operated with A330-200 aircraft. Business Class is fitted with ergonomically designed full-flat seats that can meet the needs of the most discerning business travelers and all classes of service offer personal AVODs and power outlets, keeping passengers entertained for the duration of the flight. AirChina also offers seasonal healthy meals onboard and chauffeured transfers for VIP passengers on the ground. Excellent amenities and attentive services guarantee passengers a truly pleasant journey.

The newly added flights will further promote the economic ties and cultural exchanges betweenChina and Europe. Milan and Paris are widely recognized world capitals of fashion, with Milan the leader of the world's fashion industry and in 2015, all eyes will be on the Apennine Peninsula which will play host to the World Expo.
Paris, steeped in history, is always synonymous with romance, elegance and delicacy. Whether enjoying the sunshine beside the Eiffel Tower or taking a stroll on the 19th century gravel paths, Paris is a place where everyone wants to linger longer.

As a member carrier of Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance, Air China has been continuously enhancing its European schedule, with Europe now Air China's largest overseas market.

AirChina has increased the number of its routes between China and Europe to 19, offering over 100 flights per week. Passengers can fly easily and directly fromBeijing to 18 European cities includingLondon, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow and Madrid and by utilizing the extensive network of the Star Alliance, passengers can easily get to 1,328 airports in 195 countries around the world.

Travelore News: Air China To Add Flights To Its Beijing-Los Angeles Route From May

As travel between China and the United States gains in popularity fast, increasing capacity continuously on China-US routes has been one of the Air China's important moves to enhance its long-haul schedules and build its world-spanning route network. A good reflection of that is the carrier will add flights to its Beijing-Los Angeles route from May 2015, further strengthening its presence on the North American market.

The new flight numbers are CA887/8. From May 2 to June 30, 2015, four flights will be offered per week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. FromJuly 1 to October 24, the flights will be increased to daily. The outbound flight departs fromBeijing at 12:00 and arrives in Los Angeles at 09:00 local time. The return flight departs from Los Angeles at 11:30 and arrives in Beijing at 15:10 local time. Boeing 777-300ER, an aircraft type quite popular with the world's business travelers, features full-flat seats in First Class/Business Class as well as Central Bar, personal AVODs and power outlets in all classes of service, accessible toilet and mood lighting system which can mimic wonderful moments from sunrise to sunset.

When it comes to travelers, China is both the source market and the destination for the United States, and it's also true the other way round. Traveler numbers have been rising fast in recent years. As the largest carrier between China and the United States, Air China has been investing a lot in the market in terms of capacity and continuous aircraft type upgrade. From 2013 to 2014, Air China started three non-stop routes:Beijing-Houston, Beijing-Hawaii andBeijing-Washington. Currently, Air China serves 7 destinations in North America, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Washington, Vancouver and Hawaii, spanning the southern, western and eastern parts of the United States. It offers 104 flights per week operated with Boeing 777-300ER. OnJanuary 7, 2015, Air China's first Boeing 747-8, a new member of Boeing 747 family, made its maiden flight on its long-range route:Beijing-New York.

Air China also offers seasonal healthy meals onboard and chauffeured transfers for VIP passengers on the ground. Excellent amenities and attentive services guarantee passengers a truly pleasant journey.

Travelore News: Air China Announces Expansion Of Nonstop Services Between Los Angeles And Beijing

 Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President for North America, in a press conference this morning at Tom Bradley International Terminal announcing Air China’s third nonstop service between Los Angeles and Beijing starting May 2, 2015. Consul General Jian Liu of the Chinese Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China; Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin and Los Angeles World Airports’ Deputy Executive Director Samson Mengistu also welcomed the news of the expanded services from China’s exclusive national flag carrier in their brief remarks.

Air China’s third service will start with four flights per week on May 2, 2015 and will increase to daily on July 1, 2015. Dr. Chi also announced Air China’s move from Terminal 2 at LAX to Tom Bradley International Terminal on July 1, 2015.

“I’m pleased to welcome Air China’s new service between LAX and Beijing,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Tourism from China has quadrupled over the last four years, and Air China’s new service puts us well on our way of meeting our goal of 50 million visitors a year by 2020 and creating more good jobs in the City of Los Angeles.”

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, 100 million Chinese are expected to travel overseas in 2015 and Los Angeles is one of their top favorite destinations.

More important, the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation has determined that every daily round-trip international flight on a wide-body aircraft at LAX generates $623 million annually and provides 3,120 local jobs to the regional economy.

Dr. Zhihang Chi remarked on Air China’s growth in North America since he took the helm of the company in 2004. “The unprecedented increase in connectivity will facilitate travel from China to the United States and strengthen the bilateral trade, tourism and cultural ties between the world’s two largest economies,” Dr. Chi said. “Travelers to cities in China and other fabulous destinations in Asia will find added convenience, more flexibility and options in booking their business trips or holiday visits with our new service.”

The additional third service (CA887/CA888) will be operated by Air China’s new generation Boeing 777-300ER. Featuring state-of-the-art green technology, the triple seven delivers better fuel burn performance and is much quieter than any other aircraft. With a spacious three-cabin interior, ambient lighting and an enhanced entertainment system, the B777-300ER provides transpacific passengers with a smooth, comfortable experience. It features eight luxury suites in the Forbidden Pavilion (first class), 41 fully-flat sleeper seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class) and 259 economy seats with individual TV monitors and in-seat audio-video on demand.

Air China is the only airline with nonstop services between Los Angeles and Beijing. It is also the only Chinese carrier with more-than-once daily frequency from the United States to China.

Details of Air China’s Los Angeles-Beijing services can be found in the chart below. Note: This is for reference only and the schedule may be subject to change. All times are local. *+1 = Next Day.

Flight # Origin-Destination Departure - Arrival Frequency Aircraft
CA887 Beijing-Los Angeles 12:00 - 09:00 T T S S (May 2-June 30, 2015) B777-300ER
CA888 Los Angeles-Beijing 11:30 - 15:10 +1* T T S S (May 2-June 30, 2015) B777-300ER
CA887 Beijing-Los Angeles 12:00 - 09:00 Daily (Starting July 1, 2015) B777-300ER
CA888 Los Angeles-Beijing 11:30 - 15:10 +1* Daily (Starting July 1, 2015) B777-300ER
CA983 Beijing-Los Angeles 21:00 - 18:00 Daily B777-300ER
CA984 Los Angeles-Beijing 01:40 - 05:20 +1* Daily B777-300ER
CA987 Beijing-Los Angeles 15:00 - 12:00 Daily B777-300ER
CA988 Los Angeles-Beijing 14:20 - 18:00 +1* Daily B777-300ER

Air China offers nonstop services to Beijing from its seven gateways in North America: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington Dulles, Houston, Honolulu and Vancouver. In addition to Los Angeles, Air China is also the only airline with nonstop services to Beijing from New York and Houston. It offers double daily services from New York’s JFK International; daily services from Houston, Vancouver and San Francisco; four times weekly service from Washington Dulles and three times weekly from Honolulu to Beijing.

On January 6, 2015, CA981/CA982 between New York and Beijing was upgraded to Boeing’s newest and largest passenger wide-body aircraft, the B747-8i. On May 1 this year, the aircraft for Air China’s daily nonstop San Francisco-Beijing service will also be upgraded to the iconic B747-8i. Air China’s B747-8i is the first in Air China’s fleet with a four-cabin configuration: Forbidden Pavilion, Capital Pavilion, Premium Economy and Economy. Air China is the launch carrier in Asia for Boeing’s 747-8i.

Travelore News: First Look At Heathrow's New Terminal 2

The new purpose-built home for Star Alliance at Heathrow Airport officially swung open its doors yesterday welcoming more than 4,000 passengers within the first 8 hours of operation – and it was all smooth sailing.

All 23 Star Alliance airlines servicing the UK hub will be operating from the terminal, marking a new travel experience for more than 12 million Star passengers who pass through Heathrow each year.

United Airlines is the first to move into the facility, formally known as Terminal 2 | the Queen’s Terminal for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will welcome all other member-airlines over the course of 6 months.

“After many years of planning and construction, tests and optimisation, we at Star Alliance are proud to welcome the first passengers into the new terminal,” said Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab.

“It is particularly fitting that one of our five founder members, United, should operate the first flights from this terminal, which sets new standards for Alliance customer service and seamless travel at this important hub airport.”

Designed by Luis Vidal, Terminal 2 aims to establish a seamless hub at the busy international airport optimised to meet growing demands from today’s air traveller. Once all airlines are in residence, connections for transfer passengers will be smoother than ever before allowing a standardised minimum connection time of just 60 minutes.

Air Canada, Air China and ANA will be the next new occupants, transferring their operations to T2 from June 18th. In July, Aegean, EVA Air, THAI, and Turkish Airlines will move in, together with Avianca – which will launch a service between London and Bogota on July 4.

Moves will then resume in September with EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines and Singapore Airlines and from October Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, South African Airways, SWISS and TAP Portugal.

Together the airlines operate over 121 flights each day to 45 destinations in 25 countries and each of these flights acts as a gateway to the full Alliance network of more than 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

Four airline lounges will be available for premium passengers, including those with Star Alliance Gold status.

Contributed by Daisy Melwani 

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

Travelore News: Airlines Pursue Chinese Leisure Travelers With New U.S.-China Flights

Some New Routes Would Connect Second-Tier Cities in Both Countries

Air China's inaugural flight from Beijing to Washington received a water-cannon salute on its arrival Tuesday at Dulles International in Virginia. Reuters

HONG KONG—Airlines in the U.S. and China are adding a flurry of new connections between the two countries, emboldened by signs of economic recovery in the U.S. and rising travel demand in China, but persistently high fuel prices and intensifying competition might undercut their profitability.

American Airlines Group Inc.,  the largest U.S. airline by traffic, will launch new routes this week to Shanghai and Hong Kong and from its hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Delta Air Lines Inc.  plans to launch a nonstop flight between Hong Kong and Seattle next week. Meanwhile, United Continental Holdings Inc. on Monday added a route from San Francisco to the central Chinese city of Chengdu.

In China, flag carrier Air China Ltd.  on Tuesday launched nonstop flights between Beijing and Washington, D.C. A smaller competitor, Haikou-basedHainan Airlines Co.  , which flies to Seattle and Chicago, plans to launch a service between Beijing and Boston this month, followed by a route from Beijing to New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport later this year.

The moves reflect the consistent growth in the number of Chinese leisure travelers venturing abroad, despite China's economic slowdown. Gross-domestic-product growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to 7.4% in the first quarter, its lowest level in 18 months.

American Airlines Group Inc. is among several airlines launching new routes between the U.S. and China. Karen Bleier/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

American Airlines Vice President Erwan Perhirin said that forward-booking demand for the carrier's two new Dallas routes for the summer peak travel season is "very solid," with load factor—or the proportion of seats filled on each flight—staying above 80%.

The Hong Kong service is American Airlines' third new Asian route in the past 13 months, signaling the carrier's growing optimism toward air-travel demand there.

"We're investing heavily in the region," Mr. Perhirin said. He added that the airline will continue to seek growth opportunities, though he didn't elaborate.

However, analysts warned that a string of service launches could lead to overcapacity in the U.S. and China aviation markets, hurting airlines' profitability. "The growth in the long-haul-routes industry has come through chasing volume at the expense of yields, with airlines trying to gain market shares by offering discount tickets to travelers," said Eric Lin, an aviation analyst at UBS Securities.

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.  in late May warned investors that its January-April revenue was weaker than it had expected because of high fuel prices and poor yields—a measurement of an airline's profitability—partly because of promotional fares in March for new routes including Hong Kong-Newark and Hong Kong-Doha.

The airline, based in Hong Kong, also plans to boost frequencies to Los Angeles and Chicago in the coming months.

Mr. Lin expects yields to remain under pressure, as capacity between China and the U.S. has risen 20% so far this year.

Instead of traditional gateways such as New York or Los Angeles, some of the new routes planned by U.S. and Chinese airlines would connect second-tier cities in both countries, with a primary focus on leisure travel, suggesting weaker ticket-pricing power amid intensifying competition, he added.

Even so, American Airlines Senior Vice President Suzanne Boda shrugged off concerns about possible overcapacity between the U.S. and China markets.

"With the continuous expansion in China and continued growth of travel in China, it's really just keeping up with the demand," she said. "Therefore, I would say the pricing pressure is just not in there because we need the capacity."

Representatives at Delta and United didn't immediately reply to requests for comment.

By 

Contributed JOANNE CHIU, wsj.com
Follow us on twitter: @traveloreReport