Britain and China are expected to begin new talks early next year on increasing air connectivity between the two countries. This follows a recent visit by the British Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to Beijing. Both the countries had signed an agreement in 2004 limiting the carriers of the two countries to operate a total of 31 return services every week between six destinations in both the UK and China.

For British travelers the existing nonstop options include flights to Hong Kong with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways; flights to Beijing from London Heathrow with Air China, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic Airways; flights to Shanghai with British Airways and China Eastern Airlines; and flights to Chengdu from London Heathrow. China Southern Airlines also flies to Guangzhou from London Heathrow.

McLoughlin said that a new agreement is now needed reflecting the changing times that the world is undergoing today. He said that the new bilateral agreement would be looking to increase the number of flights and destinations between the two countries that would benefit the tourists and businesses in both China and Britain. He further stated that business travelers from Britain are already traveling to these growth economies, but presently they are doing so via other hubs and connecting routes.