| Following the recent United States federal | | | | nationals are taking the opportunity to |
| approval United Airlines has launched the | | | | travel to the United States. This has |
| Beijing to Washington DC direct flight | | | | resulted in a well patronized US-China air |
| service. The first flight to Beijing from | | | | routes attracting strong interest from the |
| Washington DC flew in late March 2007. | | | | airlines. |
| | | | |
| Seven airlines now provide direct flights to | | | | When the new slot between the US and Beijing |
| the Chinese mainland from US cities. Four | | | | was opened up last year, airports and |
| American airlines and three Chinese airlines | | | | airlines waged a tough battle to secure the |
| service the US-China routes. | | | | prized new route. |
| | | | |
| When the new slot opened up Northwest | | | | Ma Kezheng, a former diplomat who has |
| airlines tried to break into the lucrative | | | | previously lived in Washington, said it was |
| US-China market however the option it put | | | | the right decision and will bring the two |
| forward which would have seen flights to | | | | capitals closer together culturally. He was |
| Beijing from Detroit was rejected. United | | | | surprised it took this long to open the |
| airlines put forward a case that highlighted | | | | route. |
| the benefits of linking the two capitals. | | | | |
| | | | "I found it difficult to travel home to |
| It was with great excitement that the first | | | | Beijing from Washington without the option of |
| direct flight to Beijing from the United | | | | the direct flight," said Kezheng. |
| States Capital was launched. Many seasoned | | | | |
| travelers said this flight was long overdue. | | | | United Airlines are using a 347-seat Boeing |
| For Chinese families living in the Washington | | | | 747-400 to service the route. The flight time |
| area and for many government officials and | | | | to Beijing from the US capital is around 13 1 |
| business people the flight servicing Beijing | | | | 2-hours. In the past east coast travelers |
| direct from Washington was welcome news. | | | | would normally have to fly via Chicago in |
| | | | order to get to and from the Chinese capital. |
| The first-ever non-stop flight from | | | | |
| Washington DC arrived at the Beijing Capital | | | | Special ceremonies were held at the airport |
| International Airport at 1:55 pm on March 29, | | | | in Washington prior to the departure of the |
| 2007 | | | | inaugural flight to Beijing. One of the |
| | | | guests, Zheng Zeguang, a Chinese embassy |
| Previously, many east coast travelers would | | | | minister, said the Beijing-Washington route |
| fly to China through Chicago, which could | | | | increases the number of weekly flights |
| present problems when bad weather caused | | | | servicing the two countries from 105 to 119. |
| delays. Some travelers would even miss | | | | |
| connecting flights due to the bad weather | | | | Travelers are hopeful that even more flights |
| that is common place in Chicago. The Chicago | | | | will be added in the future as there is high |
| to Beijing direct flight has been operating | | | | demand for seats on a Beijing flight. The |
| since April 2001. United Airlines also | | | | Chinese government is holding back further |
| operates this route. | | | | expansion of services to China as it tries to |
| | | | protect the domestic airlines from |
| As more and more Chinese benefit from the | | | | competition that would come if it allowed the |
| booming economy in that country Chinese | | | | market to open up further. |