American Airlines Asks DOT to Delay Chicago-Beijing Start

Seems even the hottest of aviation markets is being affected by the economic slowdown. American Airlines is asking the Department of Transportation (Web site: www.dot.gov) for permission to delay its launch of nonstop Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Beijing (PEK) service.

Flights were to have taken off on April 9, 2009. Now, AA is targeting an April 4, 2010, start date.

American wants to postpone the flight because of what it terms, “the extraordinary adverse market and operating conditions affecting the entire airline industry.”

If approved, American's delay would mean the only carrier flying Chicago to Beijing nonstop would continue to be United Airlines, assuming that carrier doesn't suspend service.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler