Seattle-Beijing flights planned
The application follows a recent agreement between the U.S. and China to double the number of passenger flights between the two countries by 2012. Transportation officials announced that agreement in Seattle on July 9, the day after celebrations for the rollout of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner.
Hainan, China’s fourth-largest airline, has applied to operate the Beijing-Seattle route using Airbus A330 planes, according to a CAAC statement on Thursday.
The Airbus airplanes would likely be leased as an interim measure until Hainan takes delivery of new Boeing widebody jets it has on order. In 2005, Hainan ordered eight 787 Dreamliners, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered in June 2008 in time for the Beijing Olympics.
Comments