Off the wire
• 2nd LD: Chinese premier arrives in Mongolia for official visit, Asia-Europe summit  • Commentary: New Nansha airports enable China to better serve public good in South China Sea  • Spotlight: Arbitration tribunal's award on South China Sea sets dangerous precedent of abusing arbitration system  • Chinese military dispatches team to South Sudan  • Former Burundi gov't minister shot dead by unknown gunmen  • Asia-Europe summit to boost security and economic cooperation: Malaysian expert  • Spain's consumer prices fall by 0.8 pct in June  • Roundup: Kenya lauds Chinese firm's role in technical skills transfer  • Philippine new president continues to enjoy "excellent" approval rating  • France shuts embassy and consulate in Turkey for security concern  
You are here: 　 Home

Beijing air link already a winner for Manchester Airport

Xinhua, July 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

The newly-launched direct air link between Beijing and the north of England has had an immediate impact on the fortunes of Manchester Airport, it was reported Wednesday.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) published its annual results for the year ending March 31, 2016, showing a fifth consecutive year of growth with revenues growing to 1.034 billion U.S. dollars, helped by record passenger numbers across its airports.

MAG's CEO Charlie Cornish commented on the boost given to Manchester by the launch on June 10 of the service to Beijing by Hainan Airlines that runs four times a week.

Manchester Airport has been further boosted by the launch of the first ever regular connection to China's mainland from outside southeast England, Cornish said.

A total of 2.5 million passengers flew through the airport in June 2016, up by 9.2 percent on a year earlier, thanks in part to Hainan Airlines' four flights weekly service to Beijing, the CEO said.

"The inaugural Beijing flights were 90 percent full and load factors for the summer are currently at more than 80 percent," he said.

MAG's revenues for the year to March 31, 2016 were up by 5.5 percent on a year earlier.

The group owns Manchester and London and Stanstead airports -- which between them accounted for almost 47 million passengers travelling through the airports -- and the smaller East Midlands and Bournemouth airports, which brought the figure to 51.9 million.

It meant total passenger volumes exceeded 50 million for the first time in the group's history.

Commenting on the financial impact of the decision by Britain to quit the European Union, Cornish said: "Our business strategy has a long-term focus with resilient foundations. This will stand us in good stead to respond to any adverse consequences that may be felt following the country's decision to the leave the EU."

"As the country enters a new era, we will be working closely with the rest of our industry to ensure that once we leave the EU, the UK remains a member of the European single aviation market. At no point have the excellent international air links that this country's airports provide been more vital to the nation's future prosperity and economic growth," he said. Endit