Competition for China service hots up

The latest stage in the battle to secure the rights to fly a new route to China from the United States has seen all four competitors submitting rebuttal exhibits to the Department of Transportation (DOT) comparing the rival offers.

Currently, the two leading bids appear to be Continental Airlines' submission for a direct flight between Newark/New York and Shanghai and the American Airlines bid for a Dallas/Fort Worth to Beijing route.

In addition, United Airlines has put forward its case for a Washington, D.C. to Beijing route while Northwest submitted the paperwork for its proposal of direct flights between its Detroit hub and Shanghai.

Analysts are suggesting that United is the current outsider in the race, as it already holds a vast share of the U.S. to China routes in operation today and the DOT may be reluctant to discourage competition even further.

Northwest's case appears to be undermined by the fact that Detroit is a less prominent market, as observers have noted, and the airline has previously served the market but suspended the operation only a few years ago.

American and Continental both say their own particular offerings will benefit a larger market or scope of passengers and communities and as such have sought to discourage the DOT from voting in favor of a rival airline.

Both airlines have submitted substantial lists of signatories to support their bids. American boasts a list of 117,000 individuals, almost 800 companies, and more than 100 members of Congress while Continental has 110,000 individual signatures and the support of many local and national interest groups.

A final decision from the DOT is expected within a matter of weeks.

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