(Photo : United Airlines Boeing 767-322ER)

The world's largest airline in terms of fleet size and number of destinations, United Airlines, announced that it aims to launch nonstop flights between the city of San Francisco in the United States and Chengdu in China.

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United Airlines, a major American airline based in Chicago, Illinois, said it has already applied to the US Department of Transportation for permit to launch nonstop service that will link Chengdu and San Francisco starting June 9 next year.

United Airlines Vice President for Network Brian Andrew Znotins said the airline wants to operate three-times-weekly flights to Chengdu, which is China's fourth largest city, using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Proposal Still Subject To Government Approval

The proposed nonstop flight is still subject to government approval. According to a statement released by United Airlines, the flight will depart from the San Francisco International Airport at exactly 1:35 pm three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday). It will arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 6:50 pm.

From Chengdu, the nonstop flight will depart at 10 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and arrive in San Francisco at 8:50 am the same day.

Znotins said Chengdu is an attractive destination for United Airlines because the city holds 243 of the Fortune Global 500 companies. It also is a popular destination for tourists because of its giant panda.

According to Mark Chandler of San Francisco's International Trade and Commerce, the planned nonstop flight will crucial to further strengthening the friendship of the two countries involved.

Air China Launches Direct Flight to San Francisco

Last month, Air China announced the launching of a direct airline route to San Francisco in California from the municipality of Chongqing. The 16-hour daily flight between Chongqing and San Francisco was launched on August 9.

Meanwhile, China's Xiamen Airlines announced that it has completed a $1.27 billion deal for the purchase of six Boeing 787 aircraft. The first jet is expected to be delivered on July next year although Xiamen Airlines, which is a member of the China Southern Airlines Co, said it has not confirmed which US and European destinations it will serve.