United Airlines to open nonstop flight between Chengdu and San Francisco

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United Airlines to open nonstop flight between Chengdu and San Francisco

(People's Daily Online) 14:18, August 30, 2013

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Brian Andrew Znotins, vice president of Network at United Airlines announces at the news conference that the company has applied for a nonstop flight between San Francisco and Chengdu.(People’s Daily Online/Han Shasha)

United Airlines announced today at a news conference that it has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to begin nonstop service linking San Francisco and China’s Chengdu on June 9, 2014.

United airlines intends to use the world’s most advanced passenger airplane, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, to operate three-times-weekly service to Chengdu, the fourth largest city in China. If approved, Chengdu will be the ninth destinations United serves in the Asia Pacific region nonstop from San Francisco.

Brian Andrew Znotins, vice president of Network at United Airlines, told the reporter that Chengdu is a very active city with 243 Fortune Global 500 companies. It is also famous as the natural habit of the giant panda and home to one of China’s most popular cuisines. The opening of the new flight will further promote the communication for both countries as well as meet people’s demands for business and tourist trip.

Mark Chester Chandler, director of San Francisco mayor’s office of International Trade & commerce said that San Francisco is the gateway for China and America. The new flight will play a crucial role in fostering friendship between the two countries.

The proposed flights, subject to government approval, will depart San Francisco International Airport at 1:35 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 6:50 p.m. the following day. Service from Chengdu will depart at 10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and arrive at San Francisco International Airport at 8:50 a.m. The same day.

It’s said that the flying time will be approximately 14 hours, 15 minutes westbound and 13hours, 50 minutes eastbound. The new nonstop flight will save nearly four hours off the typical travel time between the two cities.

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