CHINA Southern Airlines Co., one of the nation’s top three carriers, is exploring a joint venture with British Airways for flights between the Asian country and Britain, according to the company’s global sales director.

China Southern, Asia’s biggest carrier by fleet size, is discussing with IAG SA’s British Airways on how to extend cooperation beyond the existing basic code-share agreement announced in December, senior vice-president Luo Laijin said Friday at London’s Heathrow Airport.

The two are discussing special pro-rate agreements, flight connections from the U.K.’s capital to cities including Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as to some African cities.

“We are developing with British Airways all sorts of different business cooperation and we are going to develop, even deepen our relationship with them,” Luo said. He was speaking at an event to mark the opening of a new route between London and Sanya, a city at the southern tip of China’s Hainan Island.

Chinese carriers are bolstering their global networks with partnerships and investments to serve an aviation market that the International Air Transport Association estimates will surpass the United States as the world’s biggest by as early as 2022. With more mainland travelers taking to the skies, China Southern plans to expand its fleet to about 1,000 by 2020, from the current 750 passenger and cargo aircraft it operates.

The Guangzhou-based carrier has said it has been building its hub and has prioritized subsidizing fares for European travelers. It is looking to extend partnerships with carriers outside of the three global airline alliances, including its partnership with Air France-KLM, which currently includes a joint venture, Luo said. (SD-Agencies)