With two flights a week to commence from 1 June, Manchester airport said the route will come as a boost for businesses, tourism organisations, universities and those visiting friends and family.

Currently 28,000 people from across the airport’s catchment area travel indirectly to Bahrain. These are a mix of those visiting family and friends and businesses that trade in the Middle East.

A further two million people from across the north of England travel to a range of Gulf Air’s onward destinations which are not currently served by Manchester airport, making the route beneficial to those wanting to access destinations such as Bangkok, Mumbai and Delhi.

Ian Costigan, interim managing director of Manchester airport, said: "It’s great news that Gulf Air is starting direct flights from Manchester airport, and I am sure it will be incredibly well received by the thousands of people in our catchment area that travel there indirectly each year."