Irish carrier, Aer Lingus, has celebrated its first direct flights to Orlando from Manchester Airport, the third transatlantic route from the Northern hub launched by the airline this year.
Passengers boarding the inaugural service to the Florida resort city were greeted at the airport by Universal Studios Shrek and Trolls characters at check-in.
Flight EI 35, operated by an A330 to Orlando is the third route launched by Aer Lingus UK as part of its new services from Manchester Airport direct to the United States and the Caribbean. Aer Lingus recently launched direct flights from Manchester to Barbados on 20th October and to New York, JFK on 1st December.
The direct services from Manchester Airport are the first non-stop transatlantic flights by the Irish flag carrier from a UK airport. Plans were announced in March 2021 for the airline to increase its presence in the UK market, with a view to create over 120 new jobs at Manchester Airport as part of its expansion.
A fourth route to Boston is also set to be added as part of coming plans. From JFK and Boston passengers from Manchester will be able to reach nearly 60 onward destinations in North America, including Dallas, Nashville, Las Vegas and Bermuda, with a flight schedule planned to maximise connectivity.
Aer Lingus flights to Orlando will operate four times weekly from Manchester Airport, departing at 11am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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