The first non-stop service between New York and Shanghai has been launched by the U.S. Continental Airlines. This new service will be providing a daily, and it shows that Continental Airlines is optimistic about the Chinese market.

Jeff Smisek, the president and chief operating officer of Continental Airlines, said at the launching ceremony that Continental Airlines is optimistic about the Chinese market. Although many airline companies are reducing their schedules due to the current weak global economy, Continental Airlines is still confident about the Chinese economy and opens this new service as planned.

As the fifth largest carrier in the world, Continental Airlines launched non-stop service between New York and Hong Kong in 2001; and between New York and Beijing in 2005, respectively. It is currently the only American carrier that provides non-stop services between New York and the two Chinese cities.