United will ask permission to serve Beijing from the airline's hub at Dulles International Airport. The carrier would be the first offering non-stop service between the two capitals.
United said Tuesday that details of its plans will be part of an application filed Wednesdaywith the Department of Transportation.
Thursday is the deadline for carriers to request additional access to mainland China. U.S. transportation officials are prepared to award an additional daily route to a major Chinese city to one of the four commercial carriers already serving that country.
American Airlines has proposed serving Beijing from Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. Continental has applied for service to Shanghai from Newark Liberty International Airport.Northwest Airlines has not revealed what route it will request, but the airline intends to file its request this week, a spokesman said.
At stake is a route that could produce about $100 million in annual revenue, said Roger King, airline analyst at CreditSights.
"It's a big chunk of money, and it's probably profitable if they can keep the plane full," he said.
Chicago Tribune
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