New flight () 06/01/2001 China Eastern Airlines flight588 flew over the North Pole from Chicago to Shanghai and landed at Pudong International Airport yesterday, becoming the world's fifth airline to do so. United, Northwest, Delta and Cathay Pacific airlines earlier claimed this achievement. China Eastern didn't sell tickets for this maiden flight but invited guests from Civil Aviation Administration of China, Airbus Industrie, Cathay Pacific Airlines and United Airlines as its passengers. The new air route can shorten the journey by 1,300 kilometres.