It takes off as China regained its position as the world’s top spender on international tourism, with years of pent-up post- pandemic demand tipped to be released this year. The route will run on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft offering business and economy classes.

Wang Junjin, Chairman of Juneyao Airlines, said:

“Today marks another milestone for Juneyao Airlines as we successfully launched the route to Manchester, the second largest city in the United Kingdom. We feel deeply honoured and proud.

“After 18 years of development, Juneyao Airlines has become a more mature, high-quality international airline. We have always adhered to the strategy of building a high-value carrier and continuously promoting international development is one of our major strategies.

“We hope that this new route between China and the UK will provide more opportunities for exchanges between the two countries and contribute to the ongoing implementation of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative and the pursuit of openness.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“Opening up this route to Shanghai is another major milestone for Manchester Airport, connecting our city-region to an important centre of global commerce and bringing new opportunities for trade, travel, and investment.

“For people and businesses across the North, Greater Manchester is the gateway to the world.”

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

“Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world. We have an ever-growing route network of more than 200 destinations and we are always looking to add new routes that bring benefits to the region.

“That is why it is so exciting that Juneyao Air have chosen Manchester as their first UK destination so that we can link the North to Shanghai, China’s financial hub and the gateway to the south of the country.

“Manchester and the North’s links to China go back many years. Manchester’s Chinatown is one of the biggest and oldest in the UK, Liverpool is twinned with Shanghai, the Lake District is a popular destination for Chinese tourists and the North’s universities bring thousands of Chinese students to the region.

“This new link will bring huge benefits to the region. It will help the region’s Chinese communities connect with their friends and families, provide new customers and connections for Northern businesses, bring tourists to the area and so much more – ultimately bringing further prosperity to the North.

“I’m looking forward to working with Jueyao for many years to come and to hearing the stories from people who have flown this exciting new route.”

And with Chinese visitors each typically spending more than £3,800 compared to the average visitor spend of just over £800, tourist destinations and business across the region are set to benefit. Shanghai is China’s financial capital with the wider Shanghai area producing a gross metropolitan product of over $1.33 trillion.

Manchester became the first UK hub outside of London to gain a direct flight to mainland China when Hainan Airlines launched its service to Beijing in 2016. A report showed that export values from Manchester Airport to China grew 41% to £1.29bn in the two years after route’s launch, while national values fell 30%. It is hoped the new route could have a similar impact.

The region’s universities are extremely popular with Chinese students so it is hoped the new route will have benefits for the 43 universities within two hours of Manchester Airport. In the two years following the launch of the airport’s Beijing route the number of Chinese students in Manchester grew by 9%, compared to 3% nationally, and there was a 114% increase in Northern students gaining Chinese internships, with more than 70% from low-income backgrounds.