Delta Air Lines will launch its first flights to China at the end of this month, marking a major step in the airline's expansion.

The non-stop daily flights run between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which is also China's first link with the southeastern United States.

"We are excited to be able to offer Chinese travelers a time-saving option when traveling to the southeastern United States as well as hundreds of easy connections to the Caribbean and Latin America," Lee Macenczak, Delta's executive vice president of sales and marketing, said on March 12. "Delta chose Shanghai as its first stop in China because the city is full of business opportunities, activities and entrepreneurs."

A round trip in the Boeing B777-200ER will cost 3,299 yuan (US$463.34) for the first month.

"We expect the load factor will reach 80 percent or above after our warming-up period," said Burt Pinoli, China chief representative of Delta.

He said Beijing is the carrier's next target and it will keep applying for more routes linking China and the US.

Airlines are eager to open more direct flights between the two counties to meet the needs of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The Chinese and US governments plan to open 16 more direct flights between the two countries by the end of next year, six of which will be allotted to US carriers.