New direct flights with Hainan Airlines have begun operating from Manchester to Beijing four times a week. Manchester will become the only UK airport outside London to offer direct scheduled services to mainland China encouraging productive economic and trade cooperation between China and the UK. The flights will give the 100,000 passengers who travel each year between the two cities the convenience of direct scheduled services. The service departs on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, and will be served by an Airbus A330-300.

Tianjin Airlines, the fast-growing Chinese airline, is set to launch its first flights to the UK later this year, with a twice-weekly A330 service. The airline will begin flying from London Gatwick to Chongqing and Tianjin on the 25th June 2016. Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and Tianjin a major port city on the northern coast. The new twice-weekly Gatwick service will operate every Wednesday and Saturday and offer 18 business class and 242 economy class seats.