Chinese carriers to expand as UK agrees new air deal

Chinese airlines have welcomed a new agreement on routes between China and the UK and plan to add new flights and destinations.

Britain's Department of Transport announced the deal on Wednesday. It allows each country to authorize up to 100 flights a week, compared with 40 previously. Restrictions on destinations have also been lifted.

"This deal is a big moment for the UK. Strong connections with emerging markets like China are vital for us if we are to continue competing on the global economic stage," said UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. "Hundreds of thousands of Chinese people visit the UK every year, spending hundreds of millions of pounds."

Chinese carriers already operating routes to the UK welcomed the news.

Gao Leqi, general manager of Hainan Airlines Manchester branch, told China Daily the carrier will look at increasing the frequency of its Manchester to Beijing flights.

It will also look at new routes to second-tier cities.

Robert Chen, chief representative of Tianjin Airlines UK, welcomed the deal. Tianjin Airlines launched a twice-a-week flight in June between Tianjin and London Gatwick.

British Airways operates flights from London to Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. A spokeswoman for the UK flag carrier, who requested anonymity, said,"We constantly review our network to meet customers' demand, though we have no immediate plans to increase capacity to China."

Virgin Atlantic, which offers services to Shanghai and has an agreement with Air China to share the Chinese flag carrier's network of destinations in China, made no immediate comment.

Chinese airlines operate 38 flights a week between the two countries. British carriers have 29 flights.

Contact the reporters at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com