British Airways (BA) announced Sunday its plan to increase its share of China's market this year.

BA will increase Beijing-London service from five to six flights a week and Hong Kong-London service from 17 to 21 each week starting June this year.

It has also approached the Chinese government with plans to launch flights from London Heathrow to Shanghai this year, said Andrew Cahn, director of Government and Industry Affairs for British Airways.

The tourism agreement signed last Friday allowing Chinese grouptourists to visit the United Kingdom will help initiate a wave of Chinese interest in the country as a tourist destination.

Tim Ramage, General Manager of British Airways China, said thatcurrently there are more than 80,000 passengers flying between China's mainland and Britain every year. The company expects an annual increase of 15 percent to 20 percent of travelers in the coming years.

Source: Xinhua