United Follows Rivals, Increases Service to Asia

United Airlines announced increased passenger service to Asia, a day after two rivals were cleared to begin nonstop flights to China.

The expansion highlights the intensifying scrap between U.S. carriers over the burgeoning market in China and elsewhere in Asia.

UAL Corp.’s United said it would increase flights in May between Chicago and Hong Kong, add larger aircraft on Chicago-to-Beijing flights this summer and initiate service in April between Nagoya, Japan, and Taipei, Taiwan.

AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc. won tentative government approval Tuesday to begin nonstop service from the United States to China, joining United and Northwest Airlines Corp.