A NEW flight between Shanghai and Manchester will begin in April to tap the rising demand of local travelers for tourism, culture and sports in the northern English city.

Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines will operate three weekly flights for the long-haul route with a stop in Helsinki, Finland, using its 324-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner, it announced yesterday.

Some 200,000 people travel between Shanghai and the north of England every year. The demand reflects the strong business, academic, cultural and sporting links, said Andrew Cowan, Manchester Airport’s CEO.

He said the north of England had much to offer Chinese visitors, such as its football clubs, beautiful countryside and over 40 of the world’s top universities.

“The demand gives us the confidence that the new route will become a success and we hope this new connection will strengthen the links further,” Cowan said.

The route is the third intercontinental flight announced by Juneyao after a daily direct flight between Shanghai and Helsinki opened in June and a Shanghai-Athens flight announced this month.