International air travelers are expected to benefit from greater choice and competition after China's largest civil airline, Air China, agreed to share codes with British Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The China Securities Journal reported on Tuesday that the agreement beginning July 1 will allow Air China passengers to fly Virgin Atlantic between Shanghai and London, while Virgin travelers can switch to Air China between London and Beijing.

Both companies will start selling tickets for the code sharing flights on April 15, said the newspaper.

From April 16, Air China will start daily flights between Beijing and London, up from the current five per week.

The newspaper said passenger reward and loyalty schemes would be shared by the airlines.

The agreement is expected to boost competition among other British airlines operating on the London-Beijing route.

Virgin is the U.K.'s second largest airline. It began the first direct flights between Shanghai and London in June 1999, and has carried 400,000 passengers on the route.

Air China operates on 242 routes, including 53 international, 181 domestic and 8 cross-region routes, servicing 111 cities in 23 countries and regions.

Air China already has code sharing deals with 19 airlines at home and abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)