More flights from Manchester to USA taking pressure off south east airports

Flights by American Airlines have started from Manchester to Charlotte in North Carolina, and will run every day until the end of September. Airport and airline bosses heralded the flight as a boost for both the airport and Manchester. The airline says “Manchester has been a hugely important city for American Airlines for many years and we are thrilled to add this flight to Charlotte…. It will bring in around 200 passengers every day…..Next year, we hope to run them for longer. In terms of American Airlines, we have a massive presence in the US and Charlotte is our second biggest hub. ….This is putting Manchester in line with our other destinations like Madrid and Rome.”  American Airlines already flies from Manchester to Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. The airline CEO said most passengers are expected to originate from America – looking to fly into the north of England.”The biggest growth in airlines is down to people visiting friends and family, and Manchester has a catchment area of 22m.” More international flights from the regional airports mean less pressure to expand airports in the south east. Or to build a new south east runway. Manchester’s 2nd runway is hardly used.

.

 

First flight from Manchester to North Carolina with American Airlines takes off today

Andrew Stuart
American
Airlines Boeing 757 at Manchester Airport

The first flight from Manchester to Charlotte in North Carolina will take off today.

The inaugural American Airlines service will arrive into Terminal Three, before running every day until the end of September.

On the eve of the first flight, operated by US Airways after their merger, airport and airline bosses heralded the flight as a boost for both the airport and Manchester.

Clive Cook, American Airlines’ MD for UK and Ireland, told the M.E.N: “Manchester has been a hugely important city for American Airlines for many years and we are thrilled to add this flight to Charlotte,

“This flight is a very important step for us. I will bring in around 200 passengers every day.

“Next year, we hope to run them for longer. In terms of American Airlines, we have a massive presence in the US and Charlotte is our second biggest hub.

“This is putting Manchester in line with our other destinations like Madrid and Rome.”

American Airlines already flies from Manchester to Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.

He said most passengers are expected to originate from America – looking to fly into the north of England.

He added: “Lots of people don’t want to come into Heathrow, Manchester has a great draw on it’s own and it’s a great way into the UK. The biggest growth in airlines is down to people visiting friends and family, and Manchester has a catchment area of 22m. There is very big traffic into Manchester and we’re helping that along a bit.

“Before our merger, American Airlines had operated at Manchester for over 25 years, we go back a long way.”

He said Charlotte’s 630 daily departures to almost 150 destinations also made the airport a great transfer point for travellers.

Andrew Cowan, chief operating officer for MAG, said: “It is not only great news for Manchester Airport to welcome this important new route, but for the entire region. The introduction of the daily Charlotte route will further strengthen connections from Manchester to North America, with a wealth of onward connectivity. The route also sees another direct long haul service added to our ever increasing network of routes, which is testament to the success of our Fly Manchester campaign.”

The flight will be met by a water cannon, cake and speeches.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/american-airlines-first-flight-manchester-7161028


.

Manchester Airport’s destinations map is at  http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/destinations

which show direct flights to some places outside Europe, and the flight details (day of the week, duration etc).

Trouble is that the website says:

“NEED SOME INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY?”

and most of the destinations are largely for leisure.

.

.


 

.

See also

 

United Airlines launches new Edinburgh to Chicago link

24.5.2014 (BBC)

The first direct flight service between Edinburgh and Chicago has been launched by United Airlines.It will operate five times weekly until 12 June, daily from 13 June to 2 September and four times weekly between 3 September and 6 October. The airport said it marked “a significant step” in achieving better connectivity between the Scottish capital and North America.   This service will provide real benefits to Scotland’s economy, encouraging more tourism, trade and investment by reducing the need for travellers to make connecting flights via London or the continent.  ie. this helps to take the pressure off the south east airports, meaning the alleged case for a new runway is weakened. There is a huge amount of spare runway capacity at all regional airports, which should be used – rather than all flights being from the south east.  That helps balance the economy, and reduce the north-south divide.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-27555126

.

.

..

see also

 

Qatar Airways new service between Edinburgh and Doha – and others – avoiding need for connecting flights

November 22, 2013        A new non-stop flight between Edinburgh Airport and Doha in Qatar is to be launched next year. It will be operated x5 per week by Qatar Airways, which serves more than 100 international destinations from Doha. The 787 Dreamliner aircraft will fly all year round on the route, providing connections to Australian hubs in Perth and Melbourne. It will be the Dreamliner’s first scheduled service from Scotland. Officials at Edinburgh Airport have long wanted to attract a major Middle Eastern carrier to allow them to compete with Glasgow, which provides a twice daily Emirates service to Dubai. There will also be a US Airways route linking Edinburgh with Philadelphia. Scotland’s Transport Minister Keith Brown hailed the move as “excellent news” for the aviation sector and said the new route was “yet more evidence of the strong bonds we are building with Qatar. The direct flights remove the need to use Heathrow for hub connections. In 2014 Scotland has the Commonwealth Games, and the Ryder Cup and wants to get in more visitors to these, as well as other business and tourists.     Click here to view full story…

.

.

.

 

.