United Airlines’ first daily non-stop Beijing-San Francisco service, operated on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft configured with 10 seats in first class, 45 seats in business class and 198 seats in economy class, took off on June 12.

United managing director, South Pacific, Mr. Mark Russell, said the route expansion was in response to a steady rise in customer demand and United was proud to play an important role in China’s growing travel market and to contribute to the deepening cultural and economic links between China and the US.

The UA 888 flight departs from Beijing Capital International Airport at noon and arrives in San Francisco at 08:35 the same day. The return flight, UA 889, departs from San Francisco at 14:10 and lands in Beijing at 17:05 the following day.

The Beijing-San Francisco route joins United’s two other daily non-stop flights between China and the US: Shanghai-San Francisco and Beijing Chicago.

(CNTA June 16, 2004)