work that will have been put in by BHX marketing, the tourist boards and the UK trade department will potentially give BHX a head start in the race for direct China connections from outside London
Not so much of a headstart when MAN already has a scheduled link to China.
Time alone will tell, but one thing that Manchester, and it's proponents, need to realise is that the airport doesn't have a God given right to every new long haul route to England, outside of London.
Bit harsh? When there are announcements from the UK chancellor, various news sources and Hainan themselves that MAN will start, do we not have a right to wonder why the services have not started? Its not about a 'God given right', its about an airline stating intent to start flights and even appearing in GDS, slots, cargo etc, then, suddenly going flat.