Continental joins elite list of carriers allowed to fly to China

I hadn't realized that only two--now three--U.S. airlines were allowed to fly to China until I read about it this morning in eTurbo News.

United and Northwest currently offer direct flights to China, while American Airlines is to inaugurate service to Shanghai in 2006.

Wonder if the U.S. carriers will continue to increase their routes as China continues to grow as a meetings destination? Or will China even allow much growth for U.S.-based carriers? We shall see.