U.S.-China Pact OKs Nonstop Flights by American Carrier

The United States and China signed a new aviation agreement Saturday permitting the first nonstop service between the countries by a U.S. carrier.

The agreement was signed in Beijing after extended negotiations, the Transportation Department said.

The deal allows Northwest Airlines to begin nonstop service between Detroit and Beijing as early as April. A dispute over frequency of service was also settled in the agreement, allowing Federal Express four weekly flights to China, up from two.

The pact permits nonstop service to the United States by China Southern Airlines, based in Guangzhou. Officials said the American city for this service has not been determined, though the carrier has shown an interest in California.

The only nonstop service now between the United States and China is provided by Chinese carriers. United and Northwest combine for about 35 flights a week to China, but all stop in Tokyo.

The agreement also permits U.S. and Chinese airlines to book passengers on connecting trips involving more than one carrier, a process called code-sharing.

This will provide increased service, phased in over two years, to five additional cities in each country. The cities involved were not announced.

For example, airlines such as Delta and American might seek agreements for code-sharing with Chinese airlines, giving them a chance to get into that market.

Under such a deal, airlines coordinate their arrival and departure times, airport gates and baggage handling and ticketing.