BRITISH Airways joined Virgin Atlantic in the skies
between Heathrow and Shanghai this week, ending its UK
rival’s six-year outbound monopoly on the profitable Asian
route.
Following this year’s decision by UK and Chinese
authorities to relax bilateral aviation restrictions, BA has
launched a five-times weekly service to Shanghai Pudong Airport
using a Boeing 777 with a four-class cabin.
The airline believes the route can be profitable within a year,
said head of UK and Ireland sales and marketing Alan Burnett.
“We have always been keen to get into Shanghai,”
Burnett said.
Visa rules were amended in January to make it easier for Chinese
citizens to visit the UK and this will play a critical role in the
route’s long-term success, he added.
Capitalising on these developments, BA is also increasing its
Heathrow-Beijing frequencies from four to six a week, and Hong Kong
flights from 17 to 21 this month. Virgin, by comparison, operates
daily services to Hong Kong and five times a week to Shanghai with
plans to go daily by late October, said a spokeswoman.
Virgin commercial director Willy Boulter said: “We welcome
competition.”
BA is promoting lead-in World Traveller fares of £505
including taxes on its newest route; the same fare Virgin is
charging for its economy-class seats to Shanghai.
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