Manchester Airport welcomes UK's first Juneyao Air service
Image courtesy MAG
Dignitaries from China arrived from Shanghai before the first flight took people from the North to Shanghai. Passengers enjoyed celebrations at the gate including traditional dancing and cakes before boarding.
The three-times-a-week route to Shanghai is the first ever connection between the North and China's financial capital, which also serves as a gateway to the south of the country. The first flurry of flights into and out of Manchester are almost fully booked, indicating the popularity of the route.
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.”
Manchester Airport Group CEO Ken O’Toole said: “We know aviation is a critical enabler of growth for sectors that rely on access to global markets to reach their full potential and that is why it is great to see this new route operate from Manchester Airport.
“History tells us that every time new services to key global markets launch from regions outside of London, the create a significant economic ripple effect and that is sure to be the case with this route to Shanghai.
“As an island nation with exportable service industries at its economic core, direct air links like this will have a pivotal role to play in the drive to create a regionally balanced and globally competitive economy.
“That’s why the next government’s Industrial Strategy much by underpinned by a sustainable growth plan for aviation.”
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.”
Also, 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.
Industry experts Cirium have also heralded the new route, which comes as its projections show that outbound traffic from Manchester Airport for 2024 will be up 10% year on year – and 7% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
It means Manchester Airport is comfortably ahead of other airports, with departures from UK airports only expected to reach 92% of pre-pandemic levels.
Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, said: “As Cirium data shows, Manchester is one of the most connected cities in the UK for flights, so that is why we welcome the start of the new three-day a week service from Juneyao Air linking Manchester and Shanghai.
“With the start of these new flights, 2024 is projected to see Manchester Airport offers more departing seats than before the pandemic and is helping secure its position as one of the most connected airports in the UK.
“We know this will bring significant economic benefits to the North of England as aviation is a great economic enabler and the more links an airport has, the greater benefits it can convey.”
Businesses around the North will benefit from the new connection. Shanghai is China’s financial capital with the wider Shanghai area producing a gross metropolitan product of over $1.33 trillion.
Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: "This is great news for bolstering economic ties between China and the North of England, particularly as it gives us better access to its leading business and financial centre.
“Foreign direct investment into to the North of England has risen in recent years, in large part driven by capital from the Asia Pacific region.
“Improving direct links with major long-haul destinations is proven to strengthen trade ties further, while growing our tourism industry here.”
SpaceZero is a Manchester-based design specialist that creates educational spaces around the world and already trades in China. CEO Wayne Taylor said: “A direct flight to Shanghai from Manchester is a revelation for us.
“It will remove considerable hassle, giving me back seven hours of travel time each way, and reduces the carbon footprint by 50%.
“By adding routes like this, Manchester Airport is truly supporting businesses like ours. The benefits over a financial year will be considerable, and the increased opportunities in the region are palpable.”
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 £1.29 billion 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.
