Flying over the pole presents some difficulties, such as unpredictable weather changes. To date, the number of airlines flying the polar route is rather low. United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airlines, and now China Eastern number among them.

"The purpose is to get experience for expansion of air routes over the complicated region," said CEA Group Company President Ye Yigan.

CEA did not sell tickets for its maiden flight, but it invited guests from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Airbus Industrie, Cathay Pacific Airlines and American Airlines along as passengers, Ye said.

The journey by the new route is 1,300 kilometres shorter than the old one, and requires no refueling stopovers.

Insiders say the arctic route saves time and money. A flight flying from Chicago to Shanghai can save 150,000 yuan (US$18,000).

At present, many airlines are reluctant to open flights bound from China to the east coast of the United States because of high costs which result from the need for refueling stops.

China Eastern now has 15 passenger and cargo flights from China to the United States. Its cargo flights have to stop on their way to New York and Chicago. Its old passenger flights to these destinations have already been cancelled.

China Eastern began the feasibility study of the new air route three years ago and chose an A340 aircraft for the maiden flight. It applied to CAAC for the trial flight in February and the application was approved after strict examinations.

Ye said China Eastern will rearrange its Sino-US air routes and plans to open new non-stop flights bound for the East Coast of the United States as soon as possible.

| frontpage | nation | business | HK\Taiwan | snapshots | focus |
| governmentinfo | economic insights | campus life | Shanghai today | metropolitan |