Three US airlines, Continental, US Airways and American, have asked federal regulators for the right to operate new non-stop flights between the United States and China beginning in March 2009.

American, the largest US carrier, said it applied Monday for a route from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to Beijing. A similar bid failed several months ago, partly because American's management and pilots couldn't agree on work rules for the flights.

Continental (CAL) applied Monday to fly between Newark, NJ, and Shanghai. The Houston-based airline said its flights would serve the financial hub of New York and a large Chinese-American population in the area.

US Airways (LCC) said it is seeking to offer non-stop service between its Philadelphia hub and Beijing.

Air service between the two countries is restricted by agreements between the two governments. US airlines eager to tap the growing Chinese market must apply to the Department of Transportation for new routes.

US and Canadian airline are in the competition for Chinese routes. US airlines gather support from politicians and customers to sell their proposals to federal regulators. For example, American, a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR (AMR), boasted support from four US senators and three governors.