=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/08/26/f= inancial0929EDT0039.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, August 26, 2003 (AP) United Airlines to resume full trans-Pacific services next month MARGARET WONG, Associated Press Writer (08-26) 06:29 PDT HONG KONG (AP) -- United Airlines said Tuesday it will restore all trans-Pacific flights next month, including those from Hong Kong, as it attempts to recover from the sharp downturn in air travel caused by SARS. Meanwhile, United's chief executive, Glenn Tilton, who begins a two-day trip to Beijing on Wednesday, said he will discuss cooperation plans with mainland Chinese airlines to help United expand into the booming mainland Chinese aviation market. United, the world's No. 2 carrier, slashed 75 percent of its flights in and out of Hong Kong at the peak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, said Mark Schwab, a United vice president. The airline, which earns 17 percent of its revenue from trans-Pacific routes, has been gradually restoring its services since SARS fears eased in June, Schwab said. The airline will also resume daily flights between Hong Kong and Singapore on Oct. 26, he said. SARS first surfaced in mainland China late last year and killed 299 peop= le in Hong Kong. The virus prompted travel warnings across Asia and devastated Hong Kong's tourism industry. United Senior Vice President Graham Atkinson said the airline is "seeing= a significant upturn in terms of business travelers' pent-up demand," but a full recovery is only expected by the end of this year or early next year. Tilton said he will discuss with mainland Chinese carriers possible cooperation such as code-sharing, frequent-flyer programs and facility sharing. The code-sharing agreement would allow United to put its UA flight numbe= rs on its mainland partner's services and sell seats as if they were on United flights. Tilton declined to name a partner, but hinted that it might be Air China. "In the event that a code-share with Air China would happen, that would = be a good thing, and would benefit passenger connectivity," Tilton said. He said the possible tie-up was one of the "worst-kept secrets" in the airline industry. Tilton said the Asia-Pacific market, with its potentially huge economic growth, presents the "most significant" international opportunity for United. "We are more committed than ever to the region, to China, to Hong Kong," Tilton said. Tilton said he hopes the Chinese partners will eventually become a member of Star Alliance, a network comprising 16 carriers, which includes United, Air Canada, Deutsche Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Selina Chow, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said despite a strong rebound in the short-haul market, the number of visitors from the United States in July was still down 42 percent compared with the same month last year. "This is understandable because it always takes a bit more time to rebui= ld confidence in the long-haul market and convert interest into actual travel," Chow said. American travelers are the fourth largest group of visitors to Hong Kong, with more than 1 million arriving here last year, according to Chow. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP