Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines will launch a Manchester-Beijing service next summer.
The route will be Manchester's first nonstop service to mainland China.
A spokesperson for Manchester airport confirmed Hainan Airlines will operate the route four-times weekly — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays — from June 10.
The schedule is expected to see outbound service HU7903 depart Beijing at 0145 and arrive in Manchester at 0605, with return leg HU7904 leaving Manchester at 1200 and landing in Beijing at 0525 the next day.
The A330-200 service will be officially announced tomorrow when China's President Xi Jingping, who is on a state visit of the UK, attends an event at Manchester airport.
Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron announced visa reforms for Chinese travellers visiting the UK (see news, October 21).
Tom Newcombe
