US Airways announced that they will purchase A340 passenger aircraft to be used for a new route from Philadelphia to Beijing to be opened in 2009.

With approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation for this new route, US Airways said the new route will be the first to directly connect Philadelphia with the Middle Kingdom.

The DOT also approved American Airlines to open a route from Chicago to Beijing, and Continental Airlines to open a route from New York to Shanghai, as well as Northwest Airlines to open the route from Detroit to Shanghai. According to DOT's regulation, these new
routes are allowed to open in March 2009.

US Airways said that the company intends to change their previous order of A330 to buy A340 passenger aircraft, or directly place a new order. The new aircraft will be launched into the new route between Philadelphia and Beijing in 2009.