Hainan Airlines is looking for a European PR agency to provide strategic and creative consultancy, plus brand development across the eight countries it serves in Europe.

Reporting to Hainan Airline’s Brand team based in China, the initial tender process will be managed by the press office at Manchester Airport.

Hainan Airlines will begin direct flights from Manchester to Beijing in June this year, making it the only UK airport outside of London with a direct service to China.

Interested PR agencies must be able to demonstrate having a presence, offices or network across the European cities that Hainan Airlines currently serves.

Seb Thompson, press office manager at Manchester Airport said: “What an incredibly exciting time to work with a dynamic and growing brand like Hainan Airlines who are quickly establishing themselves on the continent and set to launch operations here in the UK in June.

“In less than six months we have generated a wealth of PR results for the announcement of their Beijing-Manchester service and I am looking forward to seeing the strong calibre of agencies that apply to take Hainan Airlines to the next level on their European journey.”

The selected agency would be expected to work with Hainan Airlines to devise a PR campaign that underpins its commercial objectives and brand strategy for an initial 12 month period.

The agency would also be expected to work alongside the PR departments at all of the airports Hainan Airlines serves in Europe to ensure a joined up, aligned and integrated approach.