DOT awards China routes to all-cargo carriers

DOT awards China routes to all-cargo carriers    The U.S. Transportation Department granted Polar Air Cargo rights to operate in the U.S./China aviation market, joining FedEx, UPS and Northwest Airlines.
   Polar received permission to operate nine weekly flights, six of which are available immediately and three beginning March 25. FedEx Express and UPS each received 12 additional weekly flights to China, and Northwest received six.
   The award increases FedEx’s flights to that country to 23.
   FedEx Express will use six of its new frequencies to provide a westbound round-the-world service connecting the United States to Shanghai with stops in Europe and other destinations in Asia using an MD-11 freighter.
   The company will use the other six new frequencies, starting March 2005, to establish an eastbound round-the-world service connecting the United States, Europe, Japan and India to Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other points in Asia using an MD-11 freighter.
   Currently, FedEx operates 11 weekly flights to China, serving Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen. FedEx offers the only direct flight between the United States and the Pearl River Delta, via its daily flight from Shenzhen.
   For 2006, FedEx has asked the DOT for another six weekly flights to China.