I was intrigued by a news blurb from Dow Jones stating that today (Monday July 16^th) was the last day for U.S. domestic airlines to apply for new non-stop routes to China.

The government is going to award ONE new non-stop route in 2007 and one in 2008 to one of the lucky applicant airlines (American, United, Delta, Continental & US Airways).

The Olympics had been on my mind for a few weeks since I got a question from a Wall Street Journal reporter the other day about the prices to travel to the Olympics in 2008 compared to historic prices to travel to other Olympic Games in the past 20 years.

In a completely different conversation; I had chatted with a international airline expert at lunch a month or so ago about the new Airbus A380 and how that would effect future long haul routes to China. He casually stated that most of the traffic to China transited through Tokyo and the new planes would completely change this particular routing.

I figured it was worth a quick look at the worldwide airline flight schedules we process at FareCompare.com to actually see how many non-stop flights there are from the U.S. to Beijing.

Turns out there are only 7 daily non-stops to Beijing for a total 2,228 seats a day. United Airlines and China Air each have 3 daily non-stops and Continental the other. The new 2007/2008 un-awarded routes will add another 550-700 seats a day depending on the plane size (there are also 5 daily non-stops to Shanghai).

I have watched a few Olympic parades in my time and the American athletes, coaches, and entourage has to be in the in the tens of thousands, let alone the fans that will be attending (including me if I can swing it).

I would suggest if you are planning on attending the Olympics in 2008 and trying to get there on the most convenient flights you better be shopping the 1^st of September for your seats.

You can only book 11 months in advance on airline reservation systems, I would bet some of the airlines are sponsoring the Olympics and booking groups on those prime arrival days, so dont delay or I guarantee you will pay