Manchester to become only UK airport outside London to…

Manchester to become only UK airport outside London to fly directly to US West Coast after new Virgin Atlantic route revealed

Manchester is to become the only UK airport outside London to fly directly to the West Coast of the USA after Virgin Atlantic announced plans to launch a new route.

The carrier will run three flights a week to Las Vegas from June 2, 2024, with tickets going on sale next months. A return economy fare is expected to start from £770 per person.

Flights will operate on Virgin Atlantic’s newest Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and add to its routes to Orlando, New York and Atlanta from Manchester Airport.

Chris Woodroofe, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: "It’s hugely exciting to see the return of Virgin Atlantic’s direct service to Las Vegas, which has always been one of our most popular long-haul routes.

"As the UK’s global gateway in the North, it’s great to work with airline partners like Virgin Atlantic to connect the region directly to as many destinations around the globe as possible.

"I am sure this service will be really popular with passengers and we look forward to continuing our work with Virgin Atlantic to further grow its route network from its Northern home in Manchester in the years to come."

Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, added: "We’re thrilled to announce that we have re-introduced Las Vegas to our portfolio of destinations flying from Manchester, our home in the north.

"This new service will not only complement our existing flying to New York, Orlando, Atlanta and Barbados from Manchester but will be the only US West Coast flight available from the north west, offering customers the opportunity to fly direct.

"We can’t wait to welcome customers onboard our newest aircraft offering them an incredible travel experience, delivered by our wonderful people."

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: "This is fantastic news for Greater Manchester and for the whole of the North, providing a direct route to the West Coast of the US and opening up a host of new opportunities for tourism, trade, and investment in our economy.

"As well as offering residents here and across the North West a new route to Las Vegas, today’s announcement is further proof that Greater Manchester is firmly on the map as a destination for international visitors and for those looking to do business in the UK."

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