DOT 6-07
Contact: Bill Mosley, Tel.: (202) 366-4570
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
DOT Proposes To Award New Daily U.S.-China Flight to United
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today proposed to award United
Airlines the right to operate a new daily flight between the United States and
China, allowing the airline to inaugurate new non-stop service between
Washington Dulles International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport beginning March 25 if the tentative decision becomes final.
The Department assessed the bids from four airlines for the chance to operate
seven weekly flights between the two countries based on criteria such as which
applicant would serve the most customers and provide the best service to the
traveling public.
“It’s not every day we get the opportunity to make flying more convenient,
support airlines and boost the economy by proposing to make it easier to fly
between the world's two most dynamic economies,” said U.S. Transportation
Secretary Mary E. Peters. “As difficult as the final choice will be, ultimately
the goal is to do everything in our power to expand service, destinations and
frequencies between the United States and China.”
In its tentative decision, the Department found that United’s Washington-Beijing
proposal had the potential to benefit the greatest number of passengers. More
people travel to China from the Washington metro area than from any other U.S.
city that currently does not have nonstop U.S.-China service, the Department
said. In addition, the tentative decision noted that United’s service would
provide the greatest capacity, offering over 253,000 seats annually in the
U.S.-China market.
Interested parties have 14 days to file objections showing why today’s tentative
decision should not be made final. If objections are filed, answers to
objections are due seven days afterward. The Department then will review
comments and issue a final decision.
Also applying for the daily service were American Airlines, which sought to fly
between Dallas/Fort Worth and Beijing; Continental Airlines, which applied for
service between Newark, NJ and Shanghai; and Northwest Airlines, which applied
for Detroit-Shanghai service.
Toward the end of the selection proceeding, American sought to change its
proposal to add a stop in Chicago before continuing to Beijing. The Department
today denied American’s motion, noting that any amendment this late in the
proceeding would significantly delay the start of new service, while allowing
American to withdraw its application as requested.
The Department evaluates U.S. air carrier proposals for new service between the
two countries as part of a U.S.-China aviation agreement signed in July 2004
that called for a total of 195 new weekly flights phased in over a six-year
period.
Today’s tentative decision, carrier applications and comments are available on
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, docket
OST-2006-25275.
-END-
Briefing
Room
