(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-29 09:38

The US-based Northwest Airlines would apply to operate nonstop flights between Detroit and China's Shanghai and Beijing in 2009, said its Beijing Office on Saturday.

"Northwest wants to begin new services to China as soon as possible," said Doug Steenland, president and chief executive officer of Northwest.

The company said it would put the Boeing 787 aircraft, a fuel-efficient plane that promises customer comfort as well, into use for both routes, if it got the permission for service in 2009.

The carrier's hub at Detroit offers services covering the entire eastern half of the United States with around 1,400 flights every day globally.

Northwest Airlines now operates flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou via Tokyo to the United States.