Competition on the China-United States route will heat up when United Airlines launches a daily non-stop service linking Shanghai with Los Angeles on May 21, about a month after its domestic rival American Airlines started flying the same route.

United's new service, operated by Boeing 777 jets, will be the 11th direct flight between China and the US, and the fourth between Shanghai and the US operated by United and Continental Airlines. By the end of this year the two carriers will merge into the world's largest airline.

"United is the largest airline serving Los Angeles with over 225 flights per day. If you compare our schedule with American Airlines, we offer twice as many connections beyond LA than they do," James P. Mueller, vice president of United Airlines Asia Pacific, told Shanghai Daily yesterday.

AA launched its daily service between Shanghai and Los Angeles on April 6.

China Eastern Airlines, which also flies the same route, will be hit by the new services as the two US carriers offer promotional tickets at around 3,290 yuan (US$502.78) for a round trip. Its tickets cost over 6,000 yuan.