Tourism boost for North as flights resume between Manchester and US
The USA is set to open for British passengers from 8th November
Transatlantic trade and tourism will be kickstarted by the return of flights between the North and the US from one week today, Monday 8th November.
Manchester Airport is set to welcome the return of services to a number of US destinations after the American government confirmed it will be opening its borders to British visitors again.
Before the pandemic, the UK’s third largest gateway was among the best-connected to the States in Europe, with more than three million passengers a year crossing the pond from its catchment area.
The first stateside bound flights from Manchester will be Virgin Atlantic services to Orlando and New York, with Orlando being the first departure. The Orlando service will depart at 10:10am, whilst the New York flight will leave at 13:10pm. Following this, routes to Atlanta and Houston will also return over the coming weeks and months.
This includes the launch of routes by Aer Lingus, with the Irish carrier opening a new base in the North for the first time, creating 153 jobs.
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.
In 2019, more than 307,000 Americans visited the North of England, spending more than £156m across the region. As well as the trade benefits of being linked to economic powerhouses like New York City, the direct connectivity also unlocks vast journey time savings, meaning businesses across the North can save thousands of manhours 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 look forward to re-connecting 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.”