British Airways expects to triple the number of Chinese destinations it serves over the next decade.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA’s parent company IAG, who is on a trip to China told the Daily Telegraph about the airline’s expansion plans to China.
BA currently serves only three Chinese destinations – Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong – but Walsh wants this to grow to "eight to 10" cities within the next decade.
Walsh added that the reason why BA had been unable to grow the number of Chinese destinations had been due to the lack of slots at Heathrow rather than any issues with regulation in China.
But BA now has the opportunity to grow its long-haul network following the purchase of rival Bmi which gives it another 42 slots at Heathrow.
BA is currently lagging behind major European competitors on the number of Chinese destinations it serves. Air France KLM now offers nine destinations in Greater China following the launch of Air France flights from Paris to Wuhan in April.
Walsh also used the opportunity to criticise the long queues some passengers have faced getting through UK immigration in recent weeks.
“Who would think that it is easier to get into China than into the UK?” said Walsh. “But I have been flying into Beijing every three to four months and I have never seen a queue.
“The UK has the facilities, but they are not being manned. It is possible to solve this if they decide it is important."
He added that business people from the Far East may be put off coming to the UK if they had to endure long waits in airports to get through the UK Border Control.