UK's Manchester airport to start flights to HK

[LONDON] Northwest England's Manchester airport is to operate direct flights to Hong Kong later this year and more services to China could follow, stepping up competition with London Heathrow, which is operating almost at full capacity.

Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, is falling behind rival European hubs in the battle for lucrative routes to emerging markets because of the constraints on expansion.

Manchester Airport, in northern England, said yesterday that Cathay Pacific would begin a four-times-a-week service to Hong Kong from December, the first time passengers in Britain will be able to travel directly to China on a scheduled service from outside London.