▁applied ▁for ▁Los ▁Angeles – Sh ang hai ▁using ▁ 7 4 7 - 4 0 0 ▁aircraft . ▁Washington – Sh ang hai ▁is ▁an ▁alternate ▁routing ▁of ▁above ▁application . ▁American ▁Airlines ▁applied ▁for ▁Chicago – Be ij ing ▁( to ▁have ▁begun ▁April ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 ; ▁which ▁actually ▁launched ▁May ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁after ▁numerous ▁del ays ). ▁ ▁Cont inental ▁applied ▁for ▁New ark – Sh ang hai ▁using ▁a ▁Bo eing ▁ 7 7 7 - 2 0 0 ER ▁Cont inental ▁had ▁previously ▁applied ▁for ▁the ▁same ▁route ▁some ▁years ▁earlier ▁in ▁which ▁United ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Washington – Be ij ing ▁route . ▁D elta ▁applied ▁for ▁Atlanta – Be ij ing ▁using ▁a ▁Bo eing ▁ 7 7 7 . ▁ ▁The ▁American ▁Airlines , ▁Cont inental ▁Airlines ▁and ▁North west ▁Airlines ▁route ▁applications ▁were ▁granted . ▁The ▁D OT ▁c ited ▁the ▁United ▁application ▁as ▁" not ▁address ing ▁the ▁bro ader ▁compet itive ▁needs " ▁given ▁that ▁United ▁has ▁approximately ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁fl ights ▁by ▁U . S . ▁carri ers ▁to ▁China . ▁The ▁D OT ▁c ited ▁American ' s ▁One World ▁air line ▁al liance ▁as ▁having ▁less ▁access ▁to ▁the ▁US – Ch ina ▁market ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁factors ▁in ▁its ▁decision . ▁ ▁In ▁a ▁hint ▁of ▁the ▁D OT ' s ▁decision - making ▁process ▁and ▁prefer ences , ▁it ▁stated ▁in