AER LINGUS is celebrating two years of successful flying direct from Manchester Airport to destinations across the Atlantic
Having first launched the transatlantic services in October 2021, in two years the Irish airline has flown up to half a million passengers.
The direct flights were introduced by the carrier in response to “increased customer demand”, Aer Lingus explained, and over the last two years the firm has increased in capacity as they have captured more of the market.
“Those travelling from Greater Manchester and the North of England have benefitted from a great selection of fares, destinations and an attractive onboard product,” Aer Lingus states.
Aer Lingus increased seat capacity by 63,000 in April of this year, by switching its single aisle A321LR aircraft to a second widebody Airbus A330 on its Manchester fleet.
When Aer Lingus first began operations from Manchester, it did so operating with a single A330 and one Airbus A321LR.
The two A330 aircraft serve direct daily flights to New York’s JFK and operate four times a week to Orlando, Florida from the end of October.
Pictured are Cabin Crew Niamh Keegan and Nicola Carooza at Aer Lingus’ inaugural flight from Manchester Airport direct to New York, JFKThe carrier will bring back Caribbean flights direct to Barbados next month, with the seasonal service starting on November 1, operating three times a week.
Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer, said: “We’re proud to have increased choice for consumers in the North of England, who can now travel directly to destinations as diverse as New York, Orlando and Barbados, in addition to the eleven flights a day operated by Aer Lingus from Manchester to Dublin and Belfast.
“We look forward to developing our offering and providing great value for our customers, combined with great service and a warm Irish welcome.”
Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “We’re proud to serve the people of the North by connecting them to the places they want to go with a route network unrivalled outside London. Few places epitomise the glamour, excitement and fun of international travel quite like New York and Orlando and it’s great to think that over half a million people in the last two years will have experienced them through our partnership with Aer Lingus.
“Passengers in the North are able to fly directly from Manchester to destinations as varied as America, Barbados and, of course, Dublin with Aer Lingus.
“This partnership helps us connect the North with the world and we’re looking forward to continuing and building on this in the years to come.”
The success of Aer Lingus’ Manchester based long-haul operations has contributed towards its ambitious network expansion to North American destinations.
In August, the airline announced a new direct service to Denver, Colorado and revealed the re-launch of its Minneapolis-St. Paul route from Dublin as part of its summer 2024 programme.
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