United Airlines begins daily nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). To launch its Chicago-Shanghai service, United is offering customers a Mileage Plus bonus miles promotion and limited-time introductory fares as well as a specially-made marketing campaign with one of China's most novel marketing agencies.

United is the only U.S. airline to provide nonstop passenger service between the United States and mainland China, and is proud to be at the forefront of the unprecedented expansion in the U.S./China air travel and cargo markets, said Graham Atkinson, senior vice president-Worldwide Sales and Alliances.  Today's flight represents greater convenience and travel options for passengers, as well as the opportunity to speed products to market and enhance trade and travel between these two great nations.

The inaugural flight will kick off with a cultural exchange in United's O'Hare terminal. Shanghai-style acrobats will perform and Shanghai refreshments will be provided by acclaimed Chicago eatery Wow Bao.

In Shanghai, United is undertaking a novel outdoor advertising campaign in conjunction with China-based marketing agency, Infocoaster. Infocoaster is placing specially-made drinks coasters at 40 of Shanghai's top eateries to spread the word about United's new fares and routes. Plus, the coasters have a special phone number that channel directly to United's China-based representatives. The special roundtrip fare for the promotion is RMB6280 (exclusive of tariffs).

United will now serve Shanghai nonstop and daily from its hubs in Chicago and San Francisco.  In addition, it serves Beijing daily from both of these U.S. cities, and has applied for air rights to serve Guangzhou from San Francisco.

United offers more flights between the 50 United States and Asia Pacific than any other airline, including service to Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo. Through the Star Alliance network, United customers have access to virtually all destinations in the region.

The Chinese government is delighted that United will be flying nonstop to Shanghai from Chicago, said Xu Jinzhong, Chicago Consul General of the People's Republic of China.  The economic benefits of this new service are clearly apparent and we look forward to increased cooperation in the areas of trade, commerce and tourism between these two great cities.