Direct Manchester-Beijing flights are boosting the UK’s northern economy

The economy in England’s North is reaping the benefits of closer ties with China, two years after a direct flight first connected Manchester to Beijing. Growth in trade and tourism is outstripping the UK average, according to a study by the consulting firm Steer. Chinese visitors to the North grew 38% since 2016, compared with 30% across the country, Manchester Airport said. Visitors also began spending more. President Xi announced the Manchester-Beijing route during his state visit to the UK in October 2015 and Hainan Airlines began the service in June 2016. In those two years, the average spending per visit in the North West increased by 94% to over GBP2,000, exceeding the national figure. “We’ve really seen the success of the first route to China from Manchester Airport, so we hope to see more being added in the future,” Mayor Andy Burnham said. <br/>