Hainan Airlines is set to hit the road this spring on a whirlwind roadshow, beginning in Stoke on Trent, in advance of its first flight from Manchester to Beijing in June.

From there, the Hainan Airlines and Manchester Airport team will be heading to other locations across Yorkshire, the Midlands, the north-east, north-west and London.

The roadshow is to showcase the airline and its product to key audiences including travel agents, students, corporates/key businesses and media in each location.

As part of the roadshow, Hainan Airlines will be giving away a pair of return tickets at each venue, giving people the opportunity to be amongst the first to fly on the new, non-stop, route between the Global Gateway to the North and the Chinese capital.

Chinese entertainment will accompany drinks and canapés, whilst attendees will also have the chance to test the aircraft’s business class seating.

Patrick Alexander, head of marketing at Manchester Airport, said: “We cannot wait to go on the road with Hainan Airlines to showcase to the 22 million people in our catchment area this great new product and service.

“We are also looking forward to the route starting in June, which will give people in the North of England and beyond much easier, direct access to China and the Far East.

“Hainan Airlines is an excellent carrier with a great product and service, and I am sure our passengers (business and leisure alike), will enjoy the new route.”

Starting on June 10th this year, Hainan Airlines will fly four times a week from Manchester to Beijing and recently increased the aircraft capacity ahead of the launch.

The route will give the North of England a direct scheduled service to China, with the aircraft holding a total of 292 passengers, with 32 in business class and 260 in economy.

It makes Manchester the only airport outside of London with a service to mainland China.