Star Alliance member United Airlines
is seeking United States Department of Transportation
(DOT) approval to launch a new route connecting Los Angeles and Beijing. United wants to continue its dominance on the Pacific Rim and hopes to launch this service by May 1st.
Connecting Los Angeles to Beijing
As reported by Onemileatatime, United has filed a request to launch a thrice-weekly service between Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) and Beijing Capital Airport
(PEK), using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft for the 6,250-mile journey. This direct service would compete with Air China, which already operates a four-weekly service onboard its Boeing 777-300ER
aircraft.
United’s proposed schedule:
From |
To |
Departure Time |
Arrival Time |
Frequency |
Aircraft |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles International |
Beijing Capital |
23:10 |
04:45 (2 days later) |
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday |
Boeing 787-9 |
Beijing Capital |
Los Angeles International |
12:00 |
09:35 (same day) |
Monday, Thursday, and Saturday |
Boeing 787-9 |
Should the proposed service go ahead, it will complement United’s current daily San Francisco to Beijing service, operated by the carriers Boeing 777-300ER and Air China’s twice-weekly 777-300ER service between the two cities.
Source: GCMap
United’s utilization of its Boeing 787-9
would add 771 available seats in each direction per week. The carrier’s aircraft is configured with 257 seats for each flight, including 48 for business class passengers, 21 in premium economy, and 188 in economy class.

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Subdued demand for travel between China and the United States
Demand for international travel and trade between the United States and China is subdued compared to pre-pandemic. This has been a result of political tension between the two superpowers but also due to flight caps. Currently, the maximum number of flights operating each week is 50. US airlines are permitted to fly up to 50 weekly flights, of which United is below this limit.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
Pre-pandemic, there were around 300 weekly flights between the US and China; however, following ongoing challenges to rebuild demand and increase flight caps, there has been a slow recovery in flights. For travel to the Chinese capital, currently, several services operate directly to the United States; these include:
-
Air China
- Beijing Capital to Los Angeles
- Beijing Capital to New York JFK
- Beijing Capital to San Francisco
- Beijing Capital to Washington Dulles
-
Hainan Airlines
- Beijing Capital to Seattle Tacoma
-
United Airlines
- Beijing Capital to San Francisco

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Of the ‘Big Three‘ US airlines, United is currently the only carrier serving Beijing; however, both American and Delta Air Lines operate services to other Chinese airports (namely Shanghai). United also maintains services between LA, San Francisco, and the Special Administrative Region of China: Hong Kong.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
United Airlines has continued its international expansion on the US East and West Coast. Already from Los Angeles and San Francisco, the carrier offers more long-haul services than any other US carrier. Direct United service operates from LA across the Pacific to Hong Kong, Melbourne, Shanghai Pudong, Sydney, Tokyo Haneda, and Tokyo Narita. In contrast, its San Francisco hub offers routes to Auckland, Beijing, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Osaka Kansai, Papeete, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, and seasonal services to Christchurch
.
For United, its continued investment in fleet upgrades and expansion at Los Angeles will continue to position itself as a leading carrier from the country’s west, reaffirming itself as a leader in long-haul travel and an integral member of the Star Alliance
.

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