US carrier Delta Air Lines is seeking to launch the first-ever non-stop route from Minnesota to China.

In addition, Chinese customers would be able to connect to more than 100 US destinations through a connection at Delta's MSP hub.

"This new route will benefit travelers across the US with more competition and options for service to Shanghai"

Ed Bastian

It has applied to serve Shanghai daily from its Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) hub from June 2020. The route would be operated by 306-seat Airbus A350-900 aircraft and is subject to government approvals from the US and China.

In its proposal to the DOT, Delta has outlined its ability to offer passengers access to more than 70 destinations in China beyond Shanghai in cooperation with partners China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines.

The announcement follows Delta’s planned service from MSP to Seoul-Incheon, which begins on 1 April 2019. In July, the carrier also restarted service between Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Shanghai Pudong.

"We are honored to be proposing the first-ever non-stop flight between Minneapolis-St. Paul and China as we continue to expand across the Pacific," said Ed Bastian, Delta's chief executive.

"In addition to our Twin Cities customers, this new route will benefit travelers across the US with more competition and options for service to Shanghai thanks to our connecting hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport."

The airline's application to the DOT added: "The Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area is currently the largest central market without direct service to China.

"Delta’s proposed new service between MSP and PVG will boost Minnesota’s economy and create jobs by increasing travel and trade opportunities to China’s financial and manufacturing centers."

Delta said its proposed start-date of 1 June 2020 balances its "strong commercial interest to serve this route" with the "extensive administrative efforts" and time generally required for US carriers to secure commercially viable takeoff and landing slots at China's main airports.

"Delta urges the [DOT] to act promptly on this application so that it can obtain foreign approvals, secure slots, finalise its operating plans, and begin marketing the Minneapolis/St. Paul-Shanghai flights to the traveling public well in advance of operations," the carrier added.

The announcement of the planned new international service comes days after Airlineroute reported a series of changes to Delta's domestic network.

Between September 2018 and January 2019, the carrier is ending service on the following routes:

Cincinnati – Milwaukee last flight 25NOV18
Cincinnati – Nashville last flight 28SEP18
Detroit – Akron/Canton last flight 26NOV18
Detroit – Peoria last flight 26NOV18
Los Angeles – Oakland last flight 30SEP18
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Bloomington last flight 26NOV18
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Flint last flight 25NOV18
Minneapolis/St. Paul – West Palm Beach last flight 02JAN19
New York JFK – Bangor last flight 25NOV18