Hainan Airlines, Manchester Airport and House of Fraser in Birmingham are set to host a Chinese New Year celebration at the city centre store.

Currently more than 52,000 people from the West Midlands travel to China each year and prior to June 2016, were forced to connect via an overseas hub or use a London airport.

That changed when Hainan Airlines launched its direct service from Manchester Airport, which flies four times a week to Beijing, saving those heading to the Far East valuable time and money.

The Chinese New Year event will be a celebration of the direct route and the chance for the people of Birmingham to find out more about the airline, destination and ease of access from Manchester Airport. As well as Chinese entertainment, drinks and canapes, there will also be two return flights to Beijing to be won on the evening.

In addition Hainan Airlines and Manchester Airport will also be hosting an instore event on 21^st and 22^nd January where shoppers can sample the airlines business class product and be treated to Chinese window displays and entertainment.

Stephen Turner, Commercial Director at Manchester Airport, said: “Manchester Airport is a global gateway and offers a magnitude of routes that are not on offer anywhere else outside of London.

“Events like this allow us to inform potential passengers and key travel agents about the breadth of our offering to save their customers the time and hassle of using congested airports in the South.

“Our route to Beijing is proving to be incredibly popular with leisure and business passengers alike. The direct access unlocks a whole host of tourist, economic and investment opportunities for people from the West Midlands and China.”

Loic Gao, UK General Manager at Hainan Airlines, said: “We are looking forward to showcase our award-winning product to the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands at our Chinese New Year event.

“Using Manchester Airport, instead of flying indirectly or from London, is a huge advantage for people in the Midlands. Not only does it save time for passengers travelling on holiday or on business, it also gives access to a wealth of economic and investment opportunities with one of the world’s biggest economies.”

Parminder Sahota, Store Manager at House of Fraser Birmingham, said: “We are pleased to be co-hosting Hainan Airlines and Manchester Airport’s Chinese New Year celebrations at one of our flagship stores.

“Since the launch of the direct route from Manchester we have seen an increase in Chinese tourists visiting Birmingham.  As one of the city’s premium department stores, our extensive brand offering across beauty, fashion, accessories and childrenswear has proved extremely popular with Chinese customers, combined with our quick and easy tax refund forms.”

The event will take place between 6-9pm on Wednesday 18^th January at the In House Bar in House of Fraser, Birmingham.

For more information or to register attendance click here

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