AA Finally Readies Chicago-Beijing Service

American Airlines today said it would launch its first flight between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, following several false starts amid difficulty in securing optimal airport slots in China.

American initially planned to launch the service on April 26, then extended the launch to May 4 and pushed it back once again to today, as it worked its way with officials to secure what it deemed to be "appropriate" slots at the Beijing airport.

American's schedule shows the flight departing from Chicago on Fridays and Sundays at 8:30 p.m., arriving at 11 p.m. the following day in Beijing. Chicago departures on Tuesday and Thursday leave at 9:30 p.m., arriving the next day in Beijing around midnight. Return services depart Beijing at around 8 a.m. on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, arriving in Chicago at 7:49 a.m. the same day. On Tuesdays, Beijing-Chicago service departs at around 7 a.m., arriving at 6:49 a.m. in Chicago.

American is serving the route with a Boeing 777 outfitted with 14 first, 37 business and 194 economy seats.