Shanghai to NYC Flight to Launch
It's about time.  The Shanghai Daily reported Thursday that China Eastern Airlines would introduce a direct round-trip flight from Shanghai to New York starting December 8.  China Eastern will run its new service 4 times a week and will be the first airline to make this trip.  Numerous American airlines have been vying for permission from the Chinese government to offer the service, and so far Continental, beginning the N.Y. to Shanghai service in March, is the only U.S. airline to have been authorized.  Presently, the only direct flights from America and Shanghai are through San Francisco, Los Angeles or Chicago.  Northwest is trying to begin Detroit/Shanghai service next year while American Airlines and United are exploring flights to Beijing from Dallas and Washington D.C. respectively.  Needless to say, I am thrilled about this news.  This flight offering will shave 5 hours off my and all the other New Yorkers' trip home.  Plus, with the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, many Americans will be making the trip to China in the next few years.

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