United to Offer Nonstop Flights to Guangzhou, China

United Airlines will begin daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Guangzhou, China. The carrier was recently awarded the route by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton, is one of the largest apparel manufacturing hubs in China and is home to numerous apparel-industry trade shows. Many West Coast importers and manufacturers fly to Hong Kong and then use ground transportation to make the 75-mile trip to Guangzhou or transfer through another Asian city such as Tokyo.

Beginning June 18, 2008, United flight 865 will depart San Francisco International Airport at 12:35 p.m. and arrive at 6 p.m. the next day. Beginning June 20, flight 868 will depart Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 11 a.m. and arrive in San Francisco at 9 a.m. The duration of the China-bound flight is 14 hours and 25 minutes, and the U.S.-bound flight is 13 hours.

Each flight will be able to accommodate up to 15 tons of cargo capacity, said a United spokesperson. United will use Boeing 777 aircrafts, outfitted with 10 first-class seats, 45 business-class seats and 198 economy-class seats (including 45 economy-plus seats). Tickets are already on sale for the new route.

United now serves three cities in China and 14 in the Asia-Pacific region with 160 weekly departures from the United States to Asia and Australia, making the company the largest trans-Pacific carrier. —Robert McAllister