=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/07/23/f= inancial1425EDT0167.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, July 23, 2004 (AP) U.S. authorizes new United and Northwest flights to China (07-23) 15:45 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- United Airlines and Northwest Airlines plan to offer new daily flights between the United States and China beginning in the next several months. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Friday the airlines are authorized to do so as a result of a new U.S.-China aviation agreement scheduled to be signed this weekend that will allow for expanded service between the two nations. "Building stronger connections between the fast-growing U.S. and Chinese economies means more opportunity, more travel and more jobs for countless Americans," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Northwest will operate seven new weekly fights from Detroit to Guangzhou, with a stopover in Tokyo, while United will have seven new weekly nonstop service flights between Chicago and Shanghai. United spokesman Stephan Roth said the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based carrier planned to begin the new service on Oct. 31. "We're very excited," he said. "It will provide unprecedented access to Shanghai from the Midwest and East Coast." Northwest spokesman Thomas Becher said the Minneapolis-based airline wou= ld add the new service no later than Nov. 10. "Northwest has been flying to China since 1947 and we look forward to doing more business with this route," he said. American Airlines had asked the Transportation Department to delay awarding the routes until next year, when American plans to seek approval to fly to China, said spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP