Manchester Airport celebrates 12 months of direct flights to Las Vegas

Manchester Airport lit up its Terminal 2 in American red white and blue as it marked the first anniversary of Virgin Atlantic’s direct flights to Las Vegas.

The city was the first in the American West to get a direct flight from Manchester Airport last year, with more than 36,000 passengers making the trip, not only to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, but also to visit renowed sites such as the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Sequoia National Park.

The route has also offered a boost for exporters in the North of the UK looking to sell into the US, with nearly 110 tonnes of commercial cargo having travelled between the two cities.

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: 

“We’re proud to connect people in the North with the places they want to travel to, and few destinations capture the imagination in quite the way Las Vegas does. It offers a dazzling array of things to see and do, and that is why it has proven so popular with our passengers in the first year of Virgin Atlantic’s new service.

“Manchester Airport also fulfils an important role as an economic enabler for businesses in the North of the UK, and the Las Vegas service offers them direct access into the West of the US, allowing them to establish partnerships that will grow and develop in the years to come.

“Passengers travelling to Vegas also have the benefit of using our new-look Terminal 2, as we move towards completion of our 10-year, £1.3bn transformation programme – which will allow us to offer a world-class passenger experience to those travelling on this route, now and in the years ahead.”

Steve Hill, CEO and President of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said: 

“Our Manchester flight strengthens Las Vegas’ position as a premier global destination by providing expanded access from our largest overseas market, satisfying demand for convenient and direct travel options. Over the past year, this service has proven to be a vital link between Vegas and Northern England, opening the door for thousands of UK visitors to experience our unmatched entertainment, world-class sporting events, and unique natural landscapes. We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Virgin Atlantic and Manchester Airport and look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”