Asia-based Cathay Pacific plans to expand its service between Hong Kong and Manchester from four weekly flights to daily flights, a senior executive at the airline announced in Manchester.

Launched last December, the service is the only non-stop link outside of London to China, and it is already proving to be a success with travelers in the North of England and Scotland.

Rupert Hogg, chief operating officer at Cathay Pacific, said of the plan at a gala dinner in Manchester Town Hall to celebrate the East-West link.

He said: "We'd like to get it to a daily service as quickly as possible. We have had an excellent start with healthy load factors in terms of passenger and cargo."

He said Hong Kong was the third-largest passenger hub in the world and offers a gateway into other parts of China for northwestern businesses and tourists visiting the Far East.

"We know Manchester has a large Chinese population, and is a popular choice for many Chinese students, too. We see it as the gateway to the north and Scotland."

The event was attended by Manchester investment, tourism and aviation bosses along with Lord Nat Wei, the peer who is a director of the Manchester-China Forum. A delegation of business, academic and tourist leaders from Hong Kong traveled to Manchester for the gala dinner.

Hogg added that Cathay Pacific was in a "new era of expansion in Europe" and was launching flights from Zurich and Dusseldorf later this year. No date has yet been set for the introduction of a daily service from Manchester. Endit

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