Airlines submit cases, signatures of support for China route

Competition over the schedule vacancy for a new route to China has reached fever pitch this week as a decision on which airline it will be offered to moves nearer.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is currently considering bids from airlines including United, American, Continental, and Northwest Airlines as they all look to outflank each other to secure the rights.

After US Airways lent its weight to United's bid yesterday (see US Airways pledges support for United's China bid), American Airlines today reported that more than 82,000 signatories and several corporations based near Dallas/Fort Worth are supporting its submission. American plans to fly from the Texas hub to Beijing (see also American makes case for China route)

Similarly, Northwest Airlines' proposal of a flight from Detroit to Shanghai has received 90,000 individual signatures of support on a petition that has been submitted as part of its application.

Not to be outdone, Continental Airlines confirmed 80,000 supporters of its own for its route proposal for a direct flight between New York-Newark and Shanghai. Many other businesses in areas across the country stand to benefit from through flights to Ohio and Texas from Newark, the airline said.

Continental stressed the size of the Newark Liberty to Shanghai market, saying it was nearly five times larger than Dallas/Fort Worth to Beijing and nearly twice the size of the Detroit to Shanghai market.

The airline also thought it would be anti-competitive to award the route to United or Northwest, as both already have flights to China in operation.

American and Northwest both emphasized the importance of the routes to generate local business. They both also said a new route would aid in regional corporate expansion by offering frequent connections to important Chinese cities.

A final decision on the award of the route will be made in the next few months, with the winning bidder set to begin service next year.

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