Cathay Pacific Airways on Monday 8 December made Manchester (MAN) its newest long-haul destination from its Hong Kong (HKG) hub. The new four times weekly service on the 9,651-kilometre route will be operated by the airline’s 777-300ERs

Cathay Pacific Airways Cabin crew were joined by Angus Barclay, GM Europe, Cathay Pacific Airways and Charlie Cornish, Group Chief Executive of the Manchester Airports Group on Monday 8 December to celebrate the launch of the airline’s new four times weekly service to Hong Kong. The route will be operated by the airline’s twin-engined 777-300ERs. Eagle-eyed readers will note that the aircraft on top of the cake has four engines.

This becomes Manchester’s longest route this winter beating the 9,011-kilometre route to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico operated by Thomson Airways. Charlie Cornish, CEO of Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said, “It is an incredibly important and exciting day here at Manchester Airport and a delight to see our direct flights to China commence. Obtaining the route has been a key objective of ours for several years and to achieve it two years ahead of schedule is testament to the continued growth, development and role Manchester Airport has to play in UK aviation. Furthermore it is pleasing to see such strong load factors on the first flights, proving that demand for direct services is well and truly here in the North West, from the 100,000 people within our region, who currently travel to Hong Kong via London or other European hubs.” Cathay Pacific already operates five daily flights to London Heathrow.