China Eastern launching daily Shanghai-Chicago flights March 18

China Eastern Airlines recently announced it will launch daily flights to Chicago from Shanghai effective March 18, 2016. The airline had earlier planned to conduct only thrice-weekly flights between the two cities on the same date, but has however now decided to operate a daily service on the route instead. The flights would be conducted with the help of a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The outbound Flight MU717 will make its departure from Shanghai Du Pong at 11:40 hours and reach Chicago O’Hare at 12:40 hours. The return Flight MU718 will depart from Chicago O’Hare at 15:00 hours and arrive in Shanghai Du Pong at 19:10 hours next day.

China Eastern Airlines, China’s second largest carrier by fleet size, first introduced its Boeing 777-300ER on its daily flights between Shanghai to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft’s business class has been equipped with a total of 52 fully-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout across two cabins. The luxurious seats have been designed by Zodiac Cirrus, which has also provided similar seats to other Boeing 777-300ER operators such as American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and EVA Air. The business class fliers would be provided direct aisle access ensuring ample personal space and privacy.

The airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft also offers six first class private suites. The passengers travelling in first class have been ensured optimum comfort and privacy for the first time as these suites can accessed through sliding doors. The traditional overhead bins in the first class suite have also been replaced with built-in storage compartments. The seats, which are cream-colored, recline 180 degrees forming a fully-flat bed.