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BEIJING (AFX) - British Airways PLC is considering flying to new mainland
destinations to take advantage of a more liberal air services regime between
China and the UK, the South China Morning Post reported, citing BA chief
executive Rod Eddington.
"We're increasing frequencies to Beijing and Hong Kong, and are looking at
other ports to serve," Eddington told the Hong Kong-based newspaper.
In February, the British and Chinese governments agreed to open the market
to more carriers by signing an enlarged air services pact that allows for more
frequent flights between the two countries. It also permits more than one
British airline to operate between the UK and Shanghai and Beijing, as well as
opening up four other mainland cities.
BA has been keen to break the Virgin Atlantic Airways monopoly on Shanghai,
after losing a licensing battle to its rival in 1999 for the route. China
Eastern Airlines has also launched services to London.
Eddington told the paper the carrier is also working hard on the political
front to make it easier for mainland citizens to acquire visas for the UK under
the mainland's approved destination status (ADS) programme.
This year, China and the European Union concluded a tourism accord giving
mainland citizens the right to apply for normal tourist visas to most European
countries. Ireland, Denmark and the UK were the only countries that did not
participate in the scheme, partly because of illegal immigration fears.
In September, BA launched the first freighter service between China and the
UK, from Shanghai Pudong airport.
"Clearly, Shanghai is a business centre and we are looking at it... but can
it support two UK carriers? There is also a lot of competition for Shanghai-UK
traffic through other European and Middle East hubs," Eddington told the paper.
Guangzhou's new Baiyun airport was "also interesting,"Eddington said, but
too close to Hong Kong for BA to consider. BA flies 17 times a week between Hong
Kong and the UK.
This month, Virgin chairman Richard Branson said the airline is also
evaluating new services to a second mainland city.
bur/tr