A fourfold increase in direct flights from Manchester airport to mainland China has been confirmed.
Hainan Airline is to fly four times a week from the north-west hub to Beijing from April 23 in a rise from one flight a week as the schedule returns to pre-pandemic levels.
The Chinese carrier initiated the route in 2016 but suspended the service as Covid travel restrictions were imposed, with a single weekly flight returning last August.
Flights by Airbus A330 aircraft will run from Manchester to Beijing every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Manchester airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “The economic benefits of more regular flights between Manchester and Beijing will be significant, whether that be in terms of trade, tourism or inward investment.
“But the positive impacts go beyond that; Manchester’s Chinese community is part of the fabric of the city, and this increase in frequency will make it much easier for people to travel in both directions to visit friends and family.
“As the final international travel restrictions have been removed, it has been hugely exciting to see services like this return to full strength, underlining Manchester airport’s role as the UK’s global gateway in the north.”