United is looking to add a new route between the U.S. and China even as many Western airlines scale back flights to the country. U.S. airlines haven’t added new service to China in nearly a decade.
In an application filed with the Department of Transportation on Monday, the Chicago-based airline plans to connect Los Angeles and Beijing. Flights are slated to operate three times per week on a year-round basis.
If approved. United would begin the route around May 2025 with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Flights would depart Los Angeles at 11:10 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and arrive in Beijing two days later at 4:45 a.m. local time. On the return leg, flights would leave Beijing at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday before arriving in Los Angeles the same day at 9:35 a.m.
According to Cirium Diio schedule data, the carrier currently serves Beijing with daily flights from San Francisco. In addition, Shanghai is served from both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Air China also flies between Los Angeles and Beijing.
