Since it was denied already, do they need to formally reapply for the second EWR-PVG?

While I would love to see UA vacuum up all of the routes AA is dropping, knowing the DOT they will throw DL a bone.

LAX-PEK or second SFO-PEK is preferred after 2nd EWR-PVG is approved. If 2nd EWR-PVG is approved, there will be three flights to PVG from east part of US and three flights from west coast. For PEK, there are three flights from east part of US now while there is one flight from west coast.

As an East Coaster, ORD is considered Midwest to me.

I get your point, though, another Western part of US flight to PEK would be nice, but Air China has something like 5 or 6 flights a day to SFO/LAX.

With AA throwing in the towel, that means there are three “slots” (actually 21 weekly frequencies, enough for 3 new routes flown daily). DL had filed for MSP-PVG and UA for second daily EWR-PVG. Both UA and DL essentially supported each other’s applications against AA’s dormancy waiver application. So assuming both refile for the same route authorities (if either has to) that should be two routes going through on the nod.

That leaves one route authority up for grabs. If UA decides to go for it their best option for getting approval would be IAD-PVG. It has the most compelling case for approval - US capital city to China’s financial powerhouse, not yet served by a US carrier. I can’t see DL being able to file a credible objection to that. And in the “game of chess” that is competing for US-China routes, UA going for 2x daily EWR first (where DL has a credible hub at JFK) is a smart move.

Judging from UA’s recent behavior, if they were to bid for another flight on top of EWR-PVG #2, I’d say the money is on SFO-PEK #2
ehhhh just because there’s an investment doesn’t mean there’s a meaningful partnership in existence from perspective of passengers. (for reference : please see AA-CZ)

second, Star has offered single roof connections at PEK T-3 ever since Norman Foster completed that terminal ahead of Beijing Olympics. And PEK, for whatever its downsides may be, suffer less ATC-induced delays than PVG, so from a pax perspective, UA/CA over PEK is very much competitive against DL/MU at PVG.

(Side note - it’s not like Star ignores PVG either. Inclusive of a hypothetical EWR PVG #2, Star flies 9 daily nonstops spanning 7 gateways from North America to PVG, not bad for an alliance that only has a tiny connecting partner of Juneyao over there)