(Yicai Global) Sept. 21 -- The first charter flight by a Chinese airline to take students back to their studies overseas since the coronavirus outbreak has left for the United Kingdom.

Seventy-four Chinese students were the sole passengers to board Hainan Airlines flight HU7953 today, CCTV News reported. The wide-body Boeing 787 departed from southwest China’s Chongqing headed for Manchester.

In cooperation with 23 British universities, Hainan Airlines plans 90 direct flights from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport to Manchester and Bristol from today to Nov. 15. The planes will carry 20,000 students from all over China back to their UK schools.

Editor: Peter Thomas