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In 2006, Shanghaiist prayed for a direct flight connecting the United States' east coast to Shanghai. Hell, we even signed a petition to the FAA. But the travel god(s) turned a deaf ear to our pleading, and awarded the precious route to Washington, DC/Beijing. Bummer! But an announcement made yesterday after a two day summit between the senior American and Chinese finance ministers has rekindled our hope. To accommodate surging trade and air traffic between the two nations, the US and China have reached a broad based agreement to open more direct passenger and cargo routes. According to the Houston Business Journal:
Under the agreement announced Wednesday, starting this year, U.S. carriers will be able to operate 13 new daily flights to China within five years. One new flight will be awarded this year and one in 2008, four new flights will be awarded in 2009, three more in 2010, and two each in 2011 and 2012.
Yes! Maybe, just maybe we’ll be able to board a direct flight to Jerz this Christmas, but then we read this:
Industry experts say it is likely that the 2007 award will go to a new entrant that doesn't already have service to China. [Newark has a direct flight to Beijing] The 2008 routes must go to Guanzhou, just across the Mainland China border from Hong Kong.
Grrrr! Looks like 2009 at the earliest. Check back in two years for updates.
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I am pretty sure China Eastern flies to JFK non-stop daily from PVG. Continental will be next in line for a flight awarded for their Newark - Shanghai non-stop, the O&D market is just too big for the DOT to ignore. The Dulles-BJ flight was awarded mainly for political reasons.
As usual, China made a "concession" just to generate buzz about "progress" and to get the Congress of China's back. But in 6 months, China will change its mind.
I think most "experts" believe Delta will win the next round and be awarded the Atlanta-Shanghai route. Delta, the No. 3 U.S. carrier behind AA and UA, has so far been shut out of the lucrative China market. And Atlanta is on the East Coast after all.
I would link and recommend this article but it is misleading in a couple of ways.
1. There is already a daily non-stop on China Eastern from Shanghai to Newark.
2. The East Coast could get a flight in 2008 (not 2009 - as your title suggests) if Delta is awarded the Atlanta non-stop.
Excuse me, I meant to say that Delta could get the Atlanta non-stop this year......2007.
I just took the China Eastern non-stop to JFK and it was great. Cheaper tick, cute hosties and there in 13 hours. Forget about United. I'm done with them.
Well, by East Coast, I was thinking more along the line of the New York tri state area and the New England states. For 2007, either Delta(from Atlanta) or American(from Dallas) will get the go ahead.
China Eastern flies out of JFK I think, not a big fan of the airline. And from what I have been told, the outbound leg(to China) departs after midnight.