I would have thought China is probably at the bottom of the list compared to some other Asia destinations where BA might be contemplating a restart. ​​​​​​BA never really excelled on China, their Chengdu route stopped as soon as the bribe to run the route ran out. Their flights to PVG and PEK (more recently PKX) were limited compared the likes of AF/KL and LH/OS, probably in part due to the lack of a local OW partner airline within China.

Whilst there is a recent progress with the relaxation of zero COVID rules inside China, there's still no date on relaxing International arrivals having to quarantine, at least the current 5+3 is better than the 14, 10+3, 7+3 that has been imposed recently. Only essential travel visas continue to be granted for China, all pre-pandemic visas remain suspended. Any inbound restrictions will be a considerable detraction against other Asia routes such as KUL, BKK, ICN, and the ongoing reduced schedules to SIN, HKG and HND/NRT.

Somewhat unique for the UK, there was also a 20 month ban on direct flights carrying passengers from when Alpha started last 2020 until August 2022. Not unique for the UK is the questions being raised about how western nations and enterprises should engage with China.

The ban for western airlines to overfly Russian airspace will be a significant detraction for European airlines to restart their routes, whereas the Chinese airlines and indeed Cathay do continue to overfly Russian airspace, and this gives them considerable commercial advantage. Where the business case to restart routes to Asia would usually include overflying Russia this will be an additional hurdle.

I would have thought BAs approach in the short term would to lean on CX for codeshares in and out of the Middle Kingdom as soon as they can transit passengers to/from China - AFAIK there is still no date for this route to be opened up. The CX and former KA network was extensive.

Longer term I guess a lot hinges on the rumours of CZ possibly joining OW. It's not obvious whether it will happen because CX as a founding member of OW had a veto vote, and with their main base adjacent to HKG in CAN, CZ might have been an awkward bedfellow for CX to be comfortable with. However CX is still on its knees and it's not clear if they will be able to rebuild their network - are the political winds continuing to give Cathay and Swire group a strong crosswind? Will CZ have the political and practical advantage? Whoever it is, CX or CZ, I think BA needs to be ready to work with them.