American Airlines to launch HK-US route

HONG KONG - American Airlines plans to launch direct flights to Hong Kong within 12 to 18 months. The first route will be a direct transpolar flight from Chicago, said David Cush, vice president of international planning and alliances for the airline, according to the South China Morning Post.

The exact starting date will depend though on when Hong Kong and US negotiators agree on a new air services pact, Cush said.

So far, US negotiators have offered Cathay and American fewer than the 40 code-share destinations they requested.

The move will increase competition on services between Hong Kong and the US, which are currently dominated by United Airlines.

Currently, American Airline's only Asian destination is Tokyo, which is a key hub for US traffic with some 40 percent of all US passengers travelling into Asia through Narita.