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Feature: New Manchester to Beijing air link heralds new gateway for northern England

Xinhua, June 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

A new flight between Manchester and Beijing was described at the inaugural take-off on Friday as a gateway between China and Britain's Northern Powerhouse.

The first-ever scheduled flight took off from Manchester, marking the start of a service by Hainan Airlines to the Chinese capital that will run four times a week.

It is the only non-stop flight to Beijing outside of London.

Officials from both Britain and China say it will boost business and bring in more tourists to northern England.

Consul General Li Yongsheng described the inaugural flight Friday as a big day for Manchester and overseas Chinese people, as well as the 60,000 Chinese students at universities within the area.

"It will bring more Chinese investment and more Chinese students to this vibrant area, as well as football supporters to a city with two great clubs," he said.

Consul General Li said the new Beijing service joined one started in 2014 by Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong. Li added a third air link between Manchester and Shanghai by Air China was expected in the near future.

Northern Powerhouse minister, MP Andrew Jones, said the new service to Beijing would make a tremendous difference for the 100,000 people who travel each year between Manchester and Beijing. Currently, they have to take transit flights or travel from London.

"Over 10 years this new service to Beijing will generate a quarter of a billion pounds to the local economy and will lead to new opportunities for businesses in both China and the North West of England," Jones said.

Hainan Airlines president Xie Haoming, said the company had given the Airbus A330-300 jetliner a new name, Hai MAN chester, with a logo that features Manchester United's football ground, a tramcar, civic buildings, a traditional letter box and a soldier in traditional Grenadier Guard's uniform Buckingham Palace guardsman.

Xie described Manchester as Britain's leading economic powerhouse after London, saying the new air link was the start of a new golden era for the airline.

"With the golden age of travel starting between Britain and China, it is foreseeable that the market between the two countries is entering a prosperous period," he said.

Departures from Manchester to Beijing will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Endit