Airline to launch direct flights to India from Manchester Airport
Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to launch direct flights from Manchester to India.
The airline is launching a new service to Delhi. It will fly to the Indian capital three times a week from October.
The flights will depart from Manchester on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Return services will depart on Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays.
Currently Virgin Atlantic operates direct flights to India from Heathrow Airport through its services to Delhi and daily service to Mumbai.
The airline has also announced new flights from Manchester to Barbados.
Andrew Cowan, chief executive of Manchester Airport and chair of the Manchester India Partnership, said: “Securing a direct service to one of India’s major cities is the product of a lot of hard work over a long period of time to forge closer ties between Manchester and this globally significant economy.
“I am delighted Virgin Atlantic has recognised this by launching what I’m sure will be a hugely popular service, not least for the 500,000 people of Indian origin living across the North.
“Our Aviation team has worked closely with the airline to create a compelling case for why our city – and the wider North – is a great place to visit, invest in and do business with. Virgin Atlantic is a key partner for Manchester Airport and this new route to Delhi is in addition to continued growth in recent years for the airline here at the UK’s third biggest airport.
“Direct connectivity to the world’s most important markets is key to creating a prosperous and internationally competitive Northern economy, and a balanced and outward facing UK.
“This route will deliver a major boost to businesses looking to export to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, as well as helping to attract Indian visitors and investors to the North.
“We look forward to working with Virgin Atlantic on launching the Delhi service in the months ahead and thank them for their continued growth at Manchester, the UK’s global gateway for the North.”
Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “2020 is an extremely exciting year of continued growth for Virgin Atlantic and increasing our presence out of Manchester is a huge focus for us.
“Not only are we the headline sponsor of the Manchester Pride Festival but we’re delighted to announce a new service flying three times a week from Manchester to Delhi, additional capacity into Barbados from Manchester as well as a Clubhouse opening this summer.
“This year will also see Flybe transform into Virgin Connect, and we’re excited to offer customers flying from the north 47 daily flights throughout the UK, Ireland and across Europe.”
The airline said it will also increase flying between Manchester and Cape Town and Havana.
