Delta seeks approval for Atlanta to China route

[JonnyKnoxville]

ATLANTA (AP) — Delta Air Lines embarked Friday on an effort to get U.S. government approval to launch non-stop flights between Atlanta and Shanghai, China.
It filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which recently awarded UAL Corp.'s United Airlines a Washington to Beijing route.
Delta wants to offer non-stop flights between its main hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chinas commercial and financial capital of Shanghai. In the filing, it proposed to launch the daily flights beginning March 25, 2008.
The DOT evaluates U.S. proposals for new service to China as part of an agreement signed in 2004 that called for a total of 195 new weekly flights phased in over a six-year period.
Atlanta-based Delta is the third-largest carrier in the U.S.

 

[General Lee]

There is a very good chance we will get the approval because 2008 is for first time entry into China, meaning only carriers who currently do not have rights to China can apply for these specific authorities. Initially I thought we would apply for Beijing prior to their Olympics, but with UAL winning IAD-PEK routes recently, maybe our guys changed their minds. From what I have seen about PVG (Shanghai), it is a wonderful city. Hopefully we will win the authority.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[catIIIc]

You guys will probalbly get it as you are the only ones that do not go there and I don't think anyone else has the aircraft to do this route. Just don't piss off the DOT or your chances are slim to none like CAL did with our opposition to EU Open Skies and foreign ownership.