China Eastern Airlines (MU) has opened reservation for its planned new U.S. service between Shanghai Pudong and Chicago.

The Shanghai-based carrier announced to start operating thrice-weekly Shanghai Pudong-Chicago service in late March 2016. Reservation has been available now, according to the airline official website.

Starting March 18, the SkyTeam airline will deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the new service, with the Chicago-bound flight departing on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Flight MU717 is scheduled to take off from Shanghai Pudong international Airport (PVG) at 11:40 a.m. and arrive at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) at 12:40 p.m., with the return flight MU718 departing ORD at 3:00 p.m. and landing at PVG at 7:10 p.m. the next day (all local time).

China Eastern had filed an application to the aviation watchdog for launching a daily service from Shanghai Pudong to Chicago in October 2015.  Actually, the non-stop service between Chicago and Shanghai will start operating 3 times per week in March and then be increased to daily.

Following Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver and Toronto, Chicago will be China Eastern's 7th gateway in North America.

Besides, the Shanghai-based carrier also plans to launch a thrice-weekly service to Brisbane in East Australia from January 16, 2016, departing PVG on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

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