UK relaxes China visa restrictions. British Airways, UK tourism need more support for China growth

If a nation is not a country until it has a local beer and airline, then an extension may be that the carrier needs to fly to London. That is based on the constant theme for Asian carriers - such as Garuda, Philippine Airlines and Vietnam Airlines - opening routes to London and maintaining them despite financial pressures. But this does not apply to China. Chinese airlines have as many seats to Italy as to the UK; more Chinese tourists fly to New Zealand than to the UK. All seven of China's long haul carriers intend to fly to Australia but only four will fly to the UK.

This backwater issue is a problem for UK tourism - and for British Airways. Concurrent with President Xi's visit to the UK, visa restrictions will be loosened for Chinese nationals. But this is not enough; British tourism is hurt by the UK not being a member of the Schengen zone, where Chinese visitors can apply for one visa and visit multiple countries on one trip. The resulting limited Chinese interest in the UK hurts British Airways, which has the smallest presence of major European carriers in China. Finnair for one is bigger, furthering the case for deeper IAG-Finnair ties, or even a takeover. BA has a strong if quiet strategy to grow its China business, but still needs more support.