First flights to the US in almost two years take off from Manchester Airport

Direct flights have resumed from Manchester Airport to the US, offering the North a boost to transatlantic trade and tourism.

Flights have restarted following an easing in travel restrictions, with the American government reopening its borders to British travellers. Prior the Covid-19 pandemic, more than three million passengers travelled stateside every year from Manchester Airport, making the Northern hub once of Europe’s best connected for flights to the US.

Passengers on a Virgin Atlantic service from Manchester Airport to Orlando, Florida were the first to take advantage of the relaxation of travel rules, taking off at 10.10am on 8th November; they will be followed by the airline’s New York flight at 1.10pm, with routes to Atlanta and Houston resuming in the coming weeks.

Irish flag carrier, Aer Lingus, has also announced plans to start offering direct transatlantic services from Manchester Airport, the first direct routes for the airline between the UK and US. Aer Lingus base at the Northern hub is set to create 153 new jobs, with flights to Barbados having already begun for the holidaymakers seeking winter sunshine.

News of the return of transatlantic services has been hailed by business and tourism chiefs, who say the direct routes will unlock wide-ranging economic, trade and tourism opportunities. Over 300,000 American tourists visted the North of England in 2019, and the direct links with Manchester Airport makes the 43 universities in the hub’s catchment more attractive for the 20,000 US students choosing to study in the UK each year.

Karen Smart, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said:

“After almost two years with no flights to the USA, it is great to finally re-connect the region with some of our most popular and important destinations.

“Not only are our US routes well loved by holidaymakers, but they are also vital to the Northern economy and the prosperity of the region. Whether that is through the trade and investment opportunities the direct connectivity unlocks, to the inbound tourism the routes bring in, as Americans flock to key destinations like the Lake District, North Wales and York, plus to city breaks favourites like Liverpool and Manchester.

“I look forward to working closely with our airline partners as more services come back to Manchester, plus I would encourage businesses and other organisations with links to the US to get in touch so we can help them unlock their potential through our international reach.”

Cllr Elise Wilson, Leader of Stockport Council and GMCA Lead for the Economy, said:

“The reopening of routes to the US is a great boost for Greater Manchester and the whole of the North in the recovery from Covid-19. Greater Manchester has a global reach, and re-establishing connections to the US will bring new opportunities for trade, tourism and employment that are so vital for our future.

“The US is a key strategic market for the city-region and we are committed to strengthening our links with the US, promoting two-way trade, innovation links, climate collaboration and wider people-to-people exchange. We look forward to welcoming back tourists, businesses and investors to Greater Manchester and showing what we have to offer.”