▁D elta , ▁however , ▁the ▁air line ▁in def initely ▁post pon ed ▁the ▁route .) ▁United ▁Airlines ▁began ▁non - stop ▁Chicago – Sh ang hai ▁fl ights ▁on ▁October ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁expansion ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Department ▁of ▁Transport ation ▁awarded ▁American ▁Airlines ▁authority ▁to ▁fly ▁between ▁Chicago ▁and ▁Shang hai ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁authority ▁to ▁Cont inental ▁Airlines ▁to ▁fly ▁between ▁New ark ▁and ▁Be ij ing . ▁▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁expansion ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁several ▁U . S . ▁air lines ▁applied ▁for ▁additional ▁route ▁authority ▁that ▁was ▁granted ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁The ▁United ▁Airlines ▁application ▁to ▁fly ▁between ▁D ul les ▁International ▁Airport ▁near ▁Washington , ▁D . C ., ▁and ▁Be ij ing ▁was ▁selected . ▁The ▁route ▁started ▁operating ▁on ▁March ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁using ▁Bo eing ▁ 7 4 7 - 4 0 0 ▁aircraft . ▁ ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁United ' s ▁application , ▁American ▁Airlines , ▁Cont inental ▁Airlines ▁and ▁North west ▁Airlines ▁had ▁also ▁applied ▁for ▁route ▁authority . ▁ ▁Cont inental ▁applied ▁for ▁rights ▁to ▁fly ▁between ▁New ark , ▁New ▁Jersey , ▁and ▁Shang hai . ▁North west ▁applied ▁for ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁fly ▁to ▁Shang hai ▁from ▁Detroit . ▁American ' s ▁application ▁originally ▁was ▁for ▁non - stop