A new route to prosperity: Flying direct from Manchester to Shanghai

Connectivity between the UK and China was given a significant boost in July after Chinese carrier Juneyao Air chose Manchester Airport as the location for its first UK service. The new direct route to China’s financial capital took flight on July 1 and operates three days a week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with business and economy class.

Juneyao Air, which operates domestic and international services from two Shanghai airports, said it was proud to partner with the UK’s second-largest city. Dignitaries from China arrived from Shanghai before the first flight departed from Manchester, with travellers enjoying celebrations including traditional dancing and cakes before boarding. The popularity of the route is already apparent: the first flurry of flights into and out of Manchester were almost fully booked.

Fresh opportunities

The new service provides a direct alternative for the 185,000 passengers in the north of the UK who travel to Shanghai indirectly each year. The route is tipped to open up fresh trade and investment opportunities for businesses across the north, with attractions and businesses in the region braced for a boom. Indeed, tourism in both directions is set to be stimulated, with the new route giving hundreds of thousands of Chinese students a year access to more than 40 universities situated within two hours of Manchester Airport. It comes as China regained its position as the world’s top spender on international tourism, with years of pent-up post-pandemic demand expected to be released this year.

The Pearl of Asia

China’s biggest city and the third-largest in the world, Shanghai is one of the most important hubs for finance, research, business and economics, science and technology, manufacturing and transportation.

Set across the Huangpu River on the east China coast, it’s home to world-class museums, ancient temples, leafy parks and famous towers piercing the dramatic skyline. The city also serves as a gateway to the south of the country, where idyllic coastal beaches, dramatic mountains and rich rainforests reside.

For more information

Please contact Juneyao Air UK general manager Anderson Chen. Email: chenpenghang@juneyaoair.com