The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday granted an application from Hainan Airlines, a Chinese carrier, to provide new scheduled service between Chicago and Beijing.
There is currently no nonstop service between Chicago and Beijing by a Chinese carrier using its own aircraft. Both American Airlines and United Air Lines currently provide daily nonstop service in the Chicago-Beijing market.
Hainan filed its application with DOT on June 18. No objections were filed to Hainan’s application, which sought rights available under the U.S.-China aviation agreement. Hainan proposes initially to operate four-times-weekly service, using Boeing 787 aircraft, beginning in the second quarter of 2013.
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