On Oct. 16, Qantas submitted its application to the North China Bureau of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) for extra Sydney-Beijing non-stop flights during next year's Olympic Games in Beijing, making it the first foreign airline to apply for additional flights to serve the Olympics.

Once approved by the Chinese regulator, Qantas will be allowed to operate up to seven return flights per week on Sydney-Beijing route between Aug. 4, 2008, and Aug. 24, 2008. Qantas first commenced its three times weekly Sydney-Beijing non-stop service back in January 2006.