United Aims for Washington-Beijing Route

United Airlines wants U.S. permission to be the first commercial airline to fly non-stop between Washington and Beijing.

The airline, which plans to use Dulles International Airport, was expected to submit a formal application to the Department of Transportation for the unprecedented service, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

The department is reportedly prepared to award an additional daily route to a major Chinese city to one of the four commercial carriers already serving that country.

Those carriers are Continental, Northwest, American and United.

For its part, Continental has applied for service to Shanghai from Newark Liberty International Airport, and American Airlines is asking for permission to fly between Beijing from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

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