Value of Manchester Airport’s new Houston-Singapore route ‘cannot be overestimated’, say business leaders

North West leaders representing businesses, universities and organisations have praised Singapore Airlines’ decision to expand at Manchester Airportand deliver a major boost to the region’s economy.

The firm’s new routes to Houston and Singapore will connect the region to parts of the world with strengths in sectors that will be key to driving growth in the North West over the coming years, including life sciences, financial services and energy.

Business groups and individual firms have championed the services, which they believe will bring massive benefits to the North West in terms of new business, investment and tourism.

The chief exec of the North West Business Leadership Team, Geoffrey Piper, said: ’‘The importance to the North West’s international businesses of direct connectivity with key centres such as Houston and Singapore cannot be overestimated.

“The ability to access a non-stop service to Houston/Singapore from Manchester will deliver a range of business benefits to such companies in terms of productivity and efficiency, and in turn help to drive growth.”

He added: “It will also help us greatly in our promotion of the region for foreign direct investment. We look forward to seeing the service go from strength to strength in the years ahead.’’

The CEO of consumer goods manufacturer PZ Cussons, Brandon Leigh, said that Manchester Airport already serves as a “key factor” in the location of the firm’s HQ.

He commented: “We regularly use the Singapore Airlines route to Singapore and so news it will now be a non-stop service is a significant boost to our business, as it will save valuable time for our employees travelling to that part of the world to do business.”

The owner of Alderley Edge-based Harris and Howard Tailors, Carl Emery, said the new Singapore Airlines service will “significantly improve” his company’s journey times as it works alongside its Houston operations.

Carl explained: “As a business with bases in both Cheshire and Houston, we are delighted to hear of the new route launch from Manchester to Houston.

“Being able to fly directly from Manchester will significantly improve our journey time as we work alongside our office in Houston, no longer having to make time consuming connections via other airports. The development of routes such as this is helping to connect Manchester to other global business hubs, which in turn advances the opportunities available to businesses such as ours based in the North.”

Other North West leaders championing the routes included the vice-president of Ellesmere Port-based chemicals firm Innospec, the head of international trade at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the associate vice-president for internationalisation at the University of Manchester, among others.

Manchester Airport CEO Ken O’Toole said: “The launch of Singapore Airlines’ service to Houston is another significant milestone for Manchester Airport.

“It will become the airport’s 13th US destination with the 14th set to open next year when flights to San Francisco commence.”

He continued: “Once again it will be another direct route that is unavailable anywhere else in the UK outside of London.

“We understand how important direct access to key markets like the US is to stimulating trade and tourism for regions across the North.”

Each year, over 31k people from the North West fly to Texas, but have to travel indirectly via London or other overseas airports.

The Manchester-Houston service is due to kick off from October 30.