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

Flights have restarted between Manchester Airport and the US, 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, bringing both tourism and transatlantic business opportunities to the region.

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, followed by the airline’s New York flight at 1.10pm. Routes to Atlanta and Houston will resume 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 visited 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.”

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said

“Reopening the economic corridor between Manchester and the US will be a significant boost for the Northern economy in terms of both trade and inbound tourism, also reinforcing our ability across the Northern Powerhouse to attract foreign investment from the US.

“Manchester Airport acts as a gateway to the north for the whole world, allowing the North to build stronger economic ties with Asia including China, Africa as well as continental Europe.”