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New Birmingham to China flight route begins New Birmingham to China flight route begins
(about 4 hours later)
The first flight from Birmingham to China is set to take off. The first flight between China and Birmingham has landed.
This will be the first flight route to China to operate from outside London. It is the only UK to China air route to operate from outside London and was made possible by a runway extension.
The airport said the service was made possible by its runway extension. The 248-seat A330-200 aircraft will fly from Beijing to Birmingham on three dates up to 6 August. The 248-seat A330-200 aircraft begins its outbound flight at 12:00 BST and will fly between Beijing and Birmingham on three dates up to 6 August.
A Birmingham Airport spokesman said all the inbound flights to the city were sold out, with just a "handful of seats" left on the outbound routes.A Birmingham Airport spokesman said all the inbound flights to the city were sold out, with just a "handful of seats" left on the outbound routes.
It showed the "enormous demand" for the route, he said. It showed the "enormous demand" for the service, he said.
The airport said previously, the flights would help Chinese visitors access destinations such as the Cotswolds, the Lake District and Birmingham.The airport said previously, the flights would help Chinese visitors access destinations such as the Cotswolds, the Lake District and Birmingham.
The size of the Chinese tourism market has tripled over the past 10 years and is estimated to be worth about £15m to the West Midlands economy, said John Bryson, Professor of Economic Geography at University of Birmingham. The size of the Chinese tourism market has tripled over the past 10 years and is estimated to be worth about £15m to the West Midlands economy, according to John Bryson, Professor of Economic Geography at University of Birmingham.
He added Birmingham was the fourth most popular destination for Chinese visitors in England.He added Birmingham was the fourth most popular destination for Chinese visitors in England.