With flights to the US resuming from Manchester Airport on Monday 8 November, transatlantic trade and tourism got a much needed boost this morning with flights between the two destinations taking off for the first time in almost two years.

Following the US Government’s decision to reopen borders to visitors from the UK again, Manchester Airport has welcomed the return of services to a number of US destinations. Prior to the pandemic, the UK’s third largest gateway was among the best connected to the US in Europe, with more than three million passengers a year crossing the pond from its catchment area.

The first stateside bound flights from Manchester were Virgin Atlantic services to Orlando and New York, with Orlando being the first departure. Following this, routes to Atlanta and Houston will also return over the coming weeks and months. This includes the launch of routes with Air Lingus, with the Irish carrier opening a new base in the North for the first time, creating in excess of 150 jobs.

Business and tourism leaders have hailed the return of transatlantic air services saying 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. In addition to 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 man-hours each year.

What’s more, with 43 universities within Manchester Airport’s catchment area, students, staff and their families will benefit from these routes returning. The US is third on the list of most common countries of origin for international students at UK universities, with 20,000 American students enrolled at British higher education institutions in 2019/20.
“After almost two years with no flights to the US, it is great to finally re-connect the region with some of our most popular and important destinations,” said Karen Smart, Managing Director at Manchester Airport.

“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 break favourites like Liverpool and Manchester.”

She added that she was encouraging businesses and other organisations with links to the US to get in touch with the airport so they can help unlock their potential through the airport’s international reach.

Henri Murison, Director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership added: “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.”

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