Hainan Airlines is to increase its flight frequency between Manchester Airport and Beijing as of June (www.hainanairlines.com).

The airline currently operates four flights a week but will increase this to five.

Loic Gao, its UK general manager, said: “This has been a successful route for Hainan Airlines since its inaugural flight on 10 June 2016.

“As we approach our first-year anniversary, an increased frequency is a wonderful way of celebrating such success.”

Stephen Turner, commercial director at Manchester Airport, said that the move by Hainan is “incredibly pleasing. I am sure the extra service will be welcomed by the 22 million passengers in our catchment area, which spans north to Scotland and south to the Midlands.”