U.S. AWARDS CHINA FLIGHTS

   The U.S. government has awarded Federal Express, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines additional route rights to China under a bilateral aviation
agreement signed in April.
   Air cargo shippers will benefit from at least four more weekly freighter
flights to China from the U.S.
   FedEx will double its freighter service to China from four to eight
weekly  flights, and from eight to 10 flights next April. FedEx currently
flies MD-11  freighters into Beijing and Shanghai.
   Northwest was also awarded four additional weekly flights this year and
two more next year. A decision on whether one of the four initial slots
will  be filled by a freighter may come as early as Tuesday, a Northwest
Cargo  spokesman said.
   United Airlines was awarded no new route rights this year, but will
operate five more weekly flights to China beginning in April.