Continental, American win new China flights = = WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Continental Airlines <CAL.N> = and American Airlines <AMR.N> won tentative U.S. government = approval on Tuesday to offer service to China, the government = said. = The Transportation Department awarded Continental rights = for seven weekly flights that could begin as early as March 25, = while American won seven flights to start in 2006. = The new services stem from an agreement last year between = U.S. and Chinese officials to increase the number of weekly = flights between the two countries. = United Airlines <UALAQ.OB> and Northwest Airlines <NWAC.O> = are the only other U.S. passenger carriers offering service to = China. = ((Reporting by John Crawley, edited by J.S. Benkoe; Reuters = Messaging: john.crawley.reuters.com@xxxxxxxxxxx; +1 202 898 = 8300)) = The 13-hour flight (CO 89) will depart Liberty, subject to government app= roval, at noon, arriving in Beijing at 1:50 p.m. the next day. The retur= n flight (CO 88) will leave the People=92s Republic of China at 3:50 p.m.= , arriving in the United States 13 hrs. 25 minutes later at 5:15 p.m. Roger EWROPS