A new route from Britain to Beijing launches on March 30, when Etihad (www.etihad.com ) starts flights from its Abu Dhabi hub to the Chinese capital. There are good connections from Heathrow and Manchester, with fares starting at £422. The airline has also slated four new services to India - to Chennai (Madras), Jaipur, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Kozhikode (Calicut) - start dates and fares are yet to be finalised.
Shaheen Air International (www.shaheenair.com ) has launched the first direct flights between Leeds Bradford and Pakistan. Flights operate twice weekly to Islamabad, with return fares from £460.
There is a new, 103-room Purple Hotel at Glasgow airport (www.purplehotels.co.uk ). The chain is aiming at the premium end of the budget market, with doubles starting at £59 per night.
EasyJet (www.easyjet.com ) has launched flights from East Midlands to Palma, Mallorca. There are three services a week; from £35 return.