Birmingham Airport could soon be known as "Shakespeare's Airport" in the US, its chief executive has revealed.

After launching the brand name in China, to promote the proximity to William Shakespeare's home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the airport is debating branching the name out into new territories.

Chief executive Paul Kehoe said, while he had been advised the Bard was not such a draw in the US, he still believed it could help bring in tourists.

However, he admitted that high-speed rail might lead to a name change in a decade's time, with HS2 making the airport just 38 minutes from London.

With flights from the airport to JFK in New York set to re-start next month, Mr Kehoe said the Shakespeare brand was worth considering.

He said: "The reason we used Shakespeare for the Chinese is there is a lot of interest there.

"When the Chinese Premier came here, he wanted to see the RSC and he said to us through an interpreter that Shakespeare was very big in China and we should make the most of it.

"We are still debating it. Personally, I think Shakespeare is still right for America. The average person in Chattanooga may not enjoy much Shakespeare but the sophisticates on the east and west coast do."

Birmingham Airport announced in March it would be re-branding in China as it revealed a run of flights to Beijing.

Hainan Airlines is to operate two flights a week between July 3 and 28 August, expected to pave the way for a regular service.

The flights are likely to carry almost 4,000 Chinese tourists to the UK and follow a trial last year which saw three flights between the cities.

Mr Kehoe said there was competition in the Far East for the flights and was hopeful it could lead to scheduled operations directly from the city to China.

Meanwhile, he said his hopes of using Shakespeare to promote the region in the US were long-held.

"People tell me nobody has heard of Shakespeare in America but I don't believe that," he said.

"When I started in 2008, I said 'How do we get to the chocolate-eating, 4x4 driving Shakespeare-loving people of Idaho?'

"We have Cadbury, Shakespeare and Land Rover here, so there is no shortage of options."

Meanwhile, Mr Kehoe said the HS2 station at the airport meant it would be so convenient for the capital it would rival the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Standsted.

He said this could raise questions over whether "London" should be added to the airport's name.

The Chinese delegation which headed over to the city with the premier handed the airport an artwork which translates to "Welcome to EngerLondon".

Mr Kehoe accepted the capital was always going to be a major draw for tourists.

He said: "The day HS2 opens, this airport effectively moves 70 miles closer to London. My successor will have to ask themselves 'What do we call this airport now?'

"We will only be ten minutes further than terminal five. Does that make it a London airport?"