With the U.K.'s exit from the European Union prompting carriers to cut flights between Europe and the U.K., and with the potential for more reductions in the future, it is unclear to what extent the China's increase will offset lower volumes of China-U.K. trade moving through EU hubs, officials say.

It also remains to be seen where the influx of passenger and cargo flights will land, since the government has yet to rule on the long-stalled Heathrow Airport runway expansion plans.

Grayling suggested that the vacillation over which airport to expand may be drawing to a close, albeit a protracted one.

“I think, right now, given how long it’s taken this decision to happen in the first place, my focus would be on doing what we should do now,” he told the House of Commons Transport Committee. “Then either this government or a future government can look at what future strategy needs to be.”

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