Hainan Airlines is to start four times a week Airbus A330-200 services between Beijing and Manchester (UK) from 10 June 2016.

Flight number HU7903 will leave Beijing Capital International Airport at 01.45h on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays, and arrive in Manchester at 06.05h. Flight number HU7904 will leave Manchester at 12.00, arriving in Manchester at 05.25h the next day. The route was announced during Chinese president, Xi Jinping’s visit to the UK. The press conference to announce the route was attended by UK prime minister, David Cameron, Hainan Airlines president, Xie Haoming, Xi, Manchester Airports Group chief executive officer, Charlie Cornish and HNA Group chairman, Chen Feng.

Cornish says: “I am honoured to witness the launch of Hainan Airlines’ Beijing – Manchester route. The new route is expected to inject over £250 million [$383 million] into the UK economy.”

Cornish also says the route will be very important for revitalising the North of England’s economy.

Feng says: “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.”