The anticipated award of US Airways service between Philadelphia and China is official, and flights will begin in early 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation said on Dec. 28.

The daily Philadelphia-to-Beijing service will be the first China flights for Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways, the dominant carrier at Philadelphia International Airport.

The route was announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters. China and the United States agreed in July to double the daily flights between the countries over the next five years.

"We are taking every opportunity to make it easier to do business and more convenient to stay connected with one of our largest trading partners," Peters said.

China flights were also awarded to American Airlines for a Chicago to Beijing route, Continental Airlines for a Newark/New York to Shanghai route and Northwest Airlines for a Detroit to Shanghai route.

The Transportation Department gave final approval in September to a daily Delta flight between Atlanta and Shanghai and United service between San Francisco and Guangzhou beginning next year.