HOPES of luring a Chinese airline to Scotland have been boosted after the UK and China agreed to more than double the number of flights allowed to operate between the two countries.

Both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport have long been competing to bag Scotland's first direct flights to the Asian superpower, so far without success.

However, successful negotiations between the UK and Chinese governments have today signed off on a new deal which means the number of passenger flights between the two nations can now increase from the current maximum of 40 to 100 per week in both directions.

There will be no limit on the number of all-cargo services and a restriction on the number of destinations that airlines can serve has also been lifted. Until now, airlines could only serve six destinations in each country.

Outside of London, only Manchester and Birmingham airports in the UK boast direct flights to China.

Francois Bourienne, commercial director at Glasgow Airport, said the announcement was "an important step towards Scotland securing a direct flight to China".

He added: "The commitment to increase the number of services will make it easier for Chinese carriers to establish new services and as the economic powerhouse of Scotland we believe Glasgow is best placed for a direct link.

“Glasgow is home to the largest Chinese community in Scotland and welcomes more than 4,000 Chinese students every year. A number of major Scottish businesses have a presence in China and we will be liaising with the Chinese airlines to state the case for a direct service to Scotland’s largest city.”

Chinese tourists are Scotland's highest spending visitors and the are expected to bring £30.8million of revenue to Scotland by 2021.

In September 2015, Hong Kong-born Scot, Fiona Hunter, was hired by the Edinburgh-based China Air Services Project to help attract a Chinese airline to the capital.

UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “This deal is a big moment for the UK. Strong connections with emerging markets like China are vital for us if we are to continue competing on the global economic stage.

"Hundreds of thousands of Chinese people visit the UK every year, spending hundreds of millions of pounds. Raising the number of permitted flights between the two countries will provide massive opportunities for our businesses, helping increase trade, create jobs and boost our economy up and down the country.”