United Airlines Boeing 777-222 ER N787UA (msn 26939) SEA (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

United Airlines (United Continental Holdings, Inc.) (Chicago) has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to begin daily nonstop service between the airline’s Los Angeles hub and Shanghai, starting on May 20, 2011. In addition, Continental Airlines applied for authority to place its CO code on the United-operated flights between the two cities.

The proposed flights from Los Angeles will depart at 1:33 p.m. (1333) and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 5:55 p.m. (1755) the next day. Service from Shanghai, beginning on May 21, 2011, will depart at 7:50 p.m. (1950) and arrive in Los Angeles at 4:47 p.m. (1647) the same day.

United intends to operate the service with three-cabin Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft, which offer customers service in United First ®, United Business ® and United Economy ®.

United currently serves Shanghai daily from Chicago (O’Hare) and San Francisco. Continental serves Shanghai daily from Newark.

Additionally, United Airlines is boosting service into Mexico City from its hubs in Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. United will launch a second daily flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City beginning on October 15, and a third daily beginning pn January 4, 2011. From Chicago, United’s current Saturday-only service to Mexico City will become twice-daily beginning November 4. From San Francisco, daily service to Mexico City becomes twice-daily on November 4. From Denver, United will offer once-daily service to Mexico City between December 16 and January 3, 2011. All flights will be operated with Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 aircraft.

From Washington Dulles, United currently offers daily service to Mexico City.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 777-222 ER N787UA (msn 26939) arrives from Tokyo (Narita) at Seattle/Tacoma.