The customers of Dragonair, the Hong Kong based air carrier, will have a choice of 14 flights a day to Beijing under an expanded codeshare agreement that comes into effect on March 27, the airline said in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

According to the airline, in addition to the eight daily Dragonair-operated flights to the capital, eligible passengers will be able to take any of the six Air China-operated services each day as well.

"The expanded codeshare agreement provides even greater flexibility and choice to our customers," said Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui, "We are very pleased to be adding Beijing to the cities included."

Under an agreement that came into effect in February last year, the two airlines have been sharing codes on flights to Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, and Tianjin.

"In effect, it means that passengers holding an eligible Dragonair ticket can choose to fly on any flight operated by either Dragonair or Air China to or from these cities."

In its summer schedule, which begins on March 27, Dragonair will operate services to Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Dalian 56times, 11 times, five times and twice a week, respectively. It does not currently fly to Tianjin.

As a result of the extended codeshare agreement, Dragonair's "KA" code will be added to the flights operated by Air China, that is 42 services a week to Beijing; 14 services a week to Chengdu; Chongqing, Dalian and Tianjin seven times a week.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2005)