Qantas has signed an agreement with Air China this week, which will take effect from September 15.

Qantas Group General Manager Sales and Distribution Rob Gurney said the arrangement would see Air China and Qantas work together to provide services between Sydney and Beijing.

"China is an extremely important market to the Qantas Group. In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games, we expect to offer daily services between Australia and Beijing to better cater to growing trade and leisure travel," he said.

"Travel between China and Australia has increased more than 40 percent in the past three years and is expected to grow a further 20 percent in the coming year," he added.

Gurney said the Qantas A330 services will offer Air China customers authentic Chinese cuisine and in-flight entertainment. Gurney said Qantas had developed similar arrangements with many other leading airlines, offering customers an extended network that provided seamless access to a wide variety of destinations around the world.   

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2006)