FLY HIGH: Kenya Airways is China bound (XU SUHUI)

For Ethiopian businessman Mesfin Getachew, a peak season plane ticket between Beijing and Addis Ababa is not hard to find. But stopping over in Guangzhou, Hong Kong or Dubai has become a real headache for Getachew, who has made frequent trips to China on business over the past three years.

His long-term travel woes will hopefully be cured as the Ethiopian Airlines introduces its daily non-stop services from Addis Ababa to Beijing from this May, which will decrease his traveling time by almost three hours.

Tewolde G. Mariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, believes this new non-stop flight will allow the passengers to have a convenient and direct access into Beijing, "an important location with great potential for growth" in his mind.

Seeing the potential for China's fast-expanding aviation industry, a growing number of African airlines have maintained an active China presence and have plans on expanding even further.

South African Airways is seeking to open a new route to the Chinese mainland this year, while Kenya Airways has announced its code share flights (commercial flights operated by one airline, but marketed by others) with China Southern Airlines, one of China's leading carriers, in early January. Angola Airlines also set up its Beijing representative office in July last year, as the company is optimistic about the demand for the flights in both Beijing and Luanda.

Africa bound

The reason why African airlines have set their eyes on establishing a presence in China is due to the ever-increasing bond between China and Africa in terms of investment, as well as tourism.

With total direct investment in Africa surging to $9.3 billion by the end of 2009, China has emerged as the continent's largest trading partner, whilst Africa has become the fourth largest overseas investment destination for China.

Altogether, 28 African countries and regions have been granted the Approved Destination Status for tourists from the Chinese mainland by the end of 2009. Some 381,000 Chinese visitors visited Africa as the first stop on their travels in 2009, up by 18.5 percent over the previous year, while the number of Africans traveling to China during 2009 increased by 6 percent over 2008, reaching 401,000. These statistics were sourced from a white paper on China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, issued by the Chinese Government last December.

Accordingly, industrial analysts said civil aviation, a new source of growth, is in full stride as the economic and trade interaction between the two sides is increasing.

China had signed civil aviation transport agreements with some 15 African countries by the end of 2009, including Ethiopia, Angola, Zambia and South Africa. The national airlines of Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Algeria have opened scheduled direct flights to Beijing and Guangzhou, while Chinese airlines have established direct flights between Beijing and Lagos, Luanda and Khartoum.

"Shortened flight paths and more flight frequency [between China and Africa] are positive measures taken to facilitate bilateral exchanges, which, as a result, is likely to increase tourism and investment," said Wu Fang, assistant research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. "But that's not enough. Take tourism for example. More promotion programs and photography exhibitions are very necessary for African nations," Wu told ChinAfrica.

So far, up to 10 air routes linking Beijing with major African cities provide services at Beijing Capital International Airport, which has witnessed a deeper and more mature Sino-African cooperation, Wu added.

Kenya Airways is a clear example of how companies have taken advantage of the growing Sino-African cooperation.

China's investment flow to Africa has experienced fast growth after the global economic downturn. Air routes connecting China and Africa have correspondingly emerged to be the key and competitive global routes.

In view of these facts, Kenya Airways plans further global business expansion with a particular focus on the Chinese market, apart from expanding its African coverage by adding six new airlines on the continent in 2011. By 2012, the airline plans to serve about 80 key destinations worldwide, according to Lily Tang, the area manager for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong of Kenya Airways.

"Kenya Airways launched its Chinese website two years ago, for the needs of growing number of Chinese passengers, which allows them, mainly businessmen and leisure travelers, to get the latest flight information and online check-in," said Tang.