Manchester adds Hong Kong flights in Asia push
Manchester Airport will add Hong Kong flights operated by Cathay Pacific Airways to its network and is targeting services to Beijing as British terminals vie for connections to fast-expanding Asian markets.
Manchester Airport will add Hong Kong flights operated by Cathay Pacific Airways to its network and is targeting services to Beijing as British terminals vie for connections to fast-expanding Asian markets.
Cathay will operate four weekly flights with Boeing 777-300ER jets from December 8.
Manchester's first direct passenger service to Hong Kong might herald connections between the northern English city and mainland China within 12 months, Manchester Airport chief executive Charlie Cornish said.
"Our catchment area is very strong and there are significant numbers of people who fly to China," Cornish said, adding that 200,000 Britons a year travelled to Hong Kong through other British airports.
The company has sent representatives to Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan as it seeks to encourage services.
The group, which also owns London Stansted, has expanded the network of its largest terminal with seven long-haul routes in the past 12 months. Operations span Ryanair's European trips to Airbus A380 services flown by Dubai's Emirates.