The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this week that it was proposing to award new US-China cargo routes to Oregon-based freight carrier Evergreen International Airlines. Once final authority is granted, Evergreen will operate six round-trip flights per week to Shanghai from New York with additional traffic stops in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Columbus, OH.The U.S.-China aviation agreement of May, 2007 permits the United States to name a new all-cargo carrier to begin service in the market on March 25, 2009. In addition to Evergreen, Kalitta Air and TradeWinds Airlines also applied for the 2009 all-cargo rights.
The DOT concluded that Evergreen’s proposal offered the best service for the shipping public because the carrier was in the best position to compete with current all-cargo airlines in the market. Evergreen would offer the first scheduled U.S.-carrier all-cargo service to China from both New York and Columbus, the DOT said, also noting that Evergreen was the only applicant that would use the entire capacity of its aircraft for China services. In addition, the Department cited Evergreen’s experience operating in the U.S.-Asia market, including its U.S.-China charter services.
Evergreen International Airlines, a unit of Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., operates Boeing 747-100F and 747-200F aircraft.
The DOT tentatively awarded backup authority to Kalitta in the event that Evergreen is unable to begin service.
Airlines currently operating U.S.-China all-cargo service are Federal Express, Northwest Airlines, Polar Air Cargo and United Parcel Service. All restrictions on scheduled U.S.-China all-cargo services will be lifted in March 2011.
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