Continental seeks New York-Shanghai flight rights

Continental Airlines has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to fly non-stop between New York/Newark and Shanghai, China in Spring 2009.

The carrier is also proposing a through-flight service between Cleveland and Shanghai

Continental is seeking the rights to operate the route, which is a part of a new landmark aviation agreement signed earlier this month, to provide additional air services between the US and China over the next six years.

"Continental again congratulates the DOT on securing the multiple rights for additional competitive US airline service to China which Continental intends to utilise in 2009 by offering daily non-stop service in the US-China market that lacks daily non-stop US carrier service," said chairman and CEO Larry Kellner.

The proposed route from Continental's New York hub at Newark Liberty, with through-flight service between Cleveland and Shanghai, would provide connections to destinations throughout the airline's New York hub.

"Businesses in northern Ohio, just like those in New York and New Jersey that compete in today's global marketplace, stand to gain from the benefits that international air service provides," Mr Kellner added.

Continental plans to operate the non-stop flight daily with a Boeing 777 aircraft on the following tentative schedule: Flight number CO87 would depart New York/Newark at 1150 hours and arrive in Shanghai at 1405 hrs the next day. On the return leg, flight CO86 would depart from Shanghai at 1605 hrs and land in New York at 1830 hrs.