New Manchester-Beijing air-route

Starting June 2016, Hainan Airlines will operate the first nonstop service between Manchester and Beijing

The two cities will be directly connected nonstop, for the first time, by expanding Hainan Airlines flights that aim to improve connections between China and Europe.

The announcement was made on October 23^rd at the Hainan Airlines' press conference at Manchester Airport. Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister David Cameron, HNA Group chairman Chen Feng, Manchester Airports Group chief executive Charlie Cornish, Hainan Airlines president Xie Haoming, government and media representatives attended the event.

“As a company born in China and now actively expanding into international markets, Hainan Airlines is doing its bit to assure the success of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative and has progressively been adding nonstop flights connecting China with Europe over the last few years.

“I believe that the Beijing-Manchester route that will be launched will serve to create a new air bridge,” as declared by Chen Feng, Chairman of HNA Group.

In response, Manchester Airports Group CEO Charlie Cornish said:

"I am honored to witness the launch of Hainan Airlines' Beijing-Manchester route.

The new route is expected to inject over 250 million pounds into the UK economy. Manchester Airport is the international gateway to the North of English and an important factor in the country's effort to revitalize the region.

Launching of the new route will help the North of England attract more investment from China and make the region significantly more accessible to Chinese businessmen and executives.”

The new Beijing-Manchester route will be the sixth international route to improve Hainan Airlines’ global network, already connecting cities like Chongqing-Rome, Beijing-San Jose, Shanghai-Boston, Shanghai-Seattle and Beijing-Prague.