Hainan Airlines will resume its Beijing-Manchester service this week.

The UK and Chinese governments last week agreed Manchester-China was one of the air corridors that could resume after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, and Hainan has moved quickly to start operating the popular service again, in time for the busy student season.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “This news will be welcomed by the hundreds of thousands of people across the north who travel to and from China each year.

“The resumption of scheduled services between the UK and China is a very welcome development and one that will serve to accelerate post-pandemic recovery and engagement with the world’s leading growth economy.”