DELTA APPLIES TO DOT FOR DIRECT U.S./CHINA FLIGHTS

   Delta Air Lines has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation
seeking authority to operate flights connecting the United States and China.
   The carrier is seeking approval to operate daily nonstop flights
connecting New York to Beijing, China, with continuing service to Shanghai, China; and three-days-per-week service between Portland and Beijing, also with continuing service to Shanghai.
   The application is part of a U.S./China agreement to allow additional
airlines to operate in the market.
   Fred Reid, Delta’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer,
said that Delta has been anxious to enter the China market for many years.
   The request for traffic slots by Delta follows the recent application by
UPS for U.S./China rights.