American Airlines Inc. asked the federal government Friday to let it delay its route between Chicago and Beijing until April 2010, a year after it was scheduled to launch service.

American blamed “extraordinary adverse market and operating conditions affecting the entire airline industry.”

Other carriers who won the highly coveted China routes earlier this year have also sought permission to put off launch of their service from other cities.

American is planning to reduce its overall capacity 7 to 8 percent by year’s end, including an 11 to 12 percent cutback on domestic routes. It plans to reduce its departures at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport by nearly 16 percent.