[Jonesy55]

Oh, one more small one on the subject of the airport. Manchester airport has recently hit 25m annual passengers and moved into the European top 20 airports for the first time, with a few new international routes planned to commence later this year. Chinese investment to significantly increase the capacity of the airport and improve existing terminals has been secured in the last year.

Originally Posted by WingTips

MAN now moves into Europe's top 20....

Record January puts Manchester Airport in Europe’s top 20


"Manchester Airport is now ranked among Europe’s top 20 airports in terms of passenger numbers after achieving its busiest January on record.
Last month saw 1,665,943 people set off for the airport’s 210 destinations as North West holidaymakers opted to ditch the cold in favour of warmer climes.
The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 11.3% and brings Manchester Airport’s rolling annual passenger total to 25,864,24 .
As a result, Manchester has now replaced Stockholm Airport in the list of Europe’s 20 busiest, ahead of airports in Lisbon, Helsinki, Athens, Vienna, Brussels and other capitals.
Manchester experienced particularly strong growth in long-haul traffic, with overall numbers up 13% during the last 12 months.
Discussing January’s passenger figures, which mark the airport’s 34th consecutive month of growth, CEO Ken O’Toole said: “To enter the top 20 airports of Europe is a significant milestone and sees us rub shoulders with the leading gateways on the continent, in terms of total passenger numbers, the mix of destinations available and the aircraft operating on those routes.
"It is pleasing that growth has been delivered across the board, with all categories of carriers continuing to recognise the strength of our catchment area, which stretches from North Wales in the west to Humberside in the east and up to the Scottish Borders.“
He continued: "A growing number of international visitors are also looking to Manchester Airport as their gateway not just to the North but the UK as a whole.
“As 2017 continues we aim to bring on more long haul routes, in order to plug the 22m people in our catchment area to key global destinations, either to unlock investment and economic opportunities for businesses, or for far flung family holidays for leisure passengers.“
In January, aircraft movements were up by 17.4% with nearly 14k planes taking off and landing on the airport’s two runways.
Cargo, meanwhile, rose year on year by 10% with 8,133 tonnes carried".

https://bdaily.co.uk/industrials/09-...uropes-top-20/

Originally Posted by WingTips

"Cathay Pacific increase flights from Manchester"...

"From June 2017, Cathay Pacific are adding another weekly flight to their schedule from Manchester. There will now be 5 flights a week from Manchester to Hong Kong".

This service operated using new A350.

Originally Posted by WingTips

More TCX from MAN

"Thomas Cook adds Cayo Santa Maria to Cuba programme..."

"Thomas Cook has launched a new long-haul resort in Cuba to its portfolio after strong demand for the country.
Holidays to Cayo Santa Maria will start next year, with flights beginning on May 5 2018.

Adding to Varadero, Holguin and Cayo Coco, the announcement means Thomas Cook is the first UK tour operator to offer holidays to all four of major Cuban tourist resorts.

Cook’s year-on-year bookings to Cuba are currently up 9% for summer 2017.
Cuba is expecting a big rise in tourism after the communist country thawed relations with the USA.

Customers will be able to choose from a range of nine all-inclusive hotels with Thomas Cook, Signature from Thomas Cook or Airtours.
The resort of Cayo Santa Maria hosts beach parties, festivals, water sports and has bars dotted along the 13km beachfront on the northern coast.
Catamaran tours around the Jardines del Rey islands are also available for holidaymakers to look for exotic fish, uninhabited mini islands and flamingos.
Sea temperatures are in the high 20s year round and air temperatures between 20C and 30C.

Thomas Cook’s leading prices for a four star resort start at £979 per person all-inclusive for seven nights flying from Manchester. Four star plus is available from £1,009 per person for seven nights."

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articl...cuba-programme

Originally Posted by WingTips

"Saudia adds Riyadh departures to Manchester schedule"...

Saudia has announced a twice weekly service from Manchester Airport to Riyadh.
Launching on June 23rd, the service complements the current offer of five flights a week to Jeddah.

Passengers can now fly direct to Saudi Arabia seven days a week.
The flight is scheduled to depart Mondays and Fridays.

The route will operate direct to the capital on Saudia’s state of the art Dreamliner with its 24 business class seats and 274 in economy.

It will offer passengers the chance to connect onto the airline’s extensive network of Middle Eastern and Asian services.

Saudia Manager for the UK, Fikry Altowayan, said: “We are excited with this newest addition to Saudia’s growing 83 destinations.

“We renew our commitment to our passengers by providing easy access, comfort, competitive pricing and convenient travel to the capital as well as more options in flying to further destination either via Jeddah or Riyadh.
“Manchester Airport is ideally situated to serve as Saudia’s gateway to cater to our guests from the North.”

Manchester Airport is the UK’s third largest airport with more than 25.8m annual passengers.
It has more than 210 destinations served by 70 airlines.
Stephen Turner, commercial director for Manchester Airport, said: “It’s great to see Saudia increasing their presence at Manchester Airport.

“The new flights to Riyadh will offer business and leisure passengers alike direct access to the Saudi capital as well as fantastic onward connections and I’m sure they’ll prove hugely popular.”

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/ne...ster-schedule/

Originally Posted by WingTips

"First direct flights from Manchester to San Francisco 'will bring new breed of Man-Fran super commuter'"

"Experts predict a boom in entrepreneurs setting up shop in both Manchester and San Francisco

A new breed of Manchester-San Francisco ‘super commuter’ is about to be born, experts say.

Virgin Atlantic is preparing to launch Manchester’s first ever direct route to the northern Californian city on March 28 - followed by Thomas Cook in May".

Full story...http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....r-san-12665739

Manchester Statistics - January 2017 (Part 2)

Top 25 destinations - by passenger numbers

DUBAI................................................ 90,003
DUBLIN.............................................. 81,019
AMSTERDAM..................................... 80,813
TENERIFE (SURREINA SOFIA)............. 67,348
HEATHROW....................................... 55,455
PARIS (CHARLES DE GAULLE)............ 48,024
ALICANTE.......................................... 40,191
ABU DHABI........................................ 36,574
GENEVA............................................. 31,580
DOHA................................................ 30,760
ARRICIFE............................................ 30,266
MALAGA............................................ 29,794
FRANKFURT....................................... 27,453
MUNICH............................................ 25,433
COPENHAGEN................................... 23,421
LAS PALMAS...................................... 22,573
BRIDGETOWN.................................... 22,553
KEFLAVIK............................................ 22,430
BARCELONA....................................... 21,792
ORLANDO........................................... 25,912
BERLIN (SCHONEFELD)....................... 21,511
BELFAST INTERNATIONAL.................. 24,225
ISLAMABAD........................................ 20,326
BELFAST CITY...................................... 20,009
FUERTAVENTURA............................... 19,185
DUSSELDORF...................................... 17,324

CAA provisional statistics for January are missing a number of domestic destinations.





Manchester Statistics - January 2017 (Part 3)
Top 25 destinations with highest percentage increase.
Destination......................................Total Pax....Schedule Pax....Charter Pax....Percentage change
MILAN (MALPENSA).................... 10,179.......... 10,179...................... 0.................... 209.77
TOULOUSE.................................... 3,946........... 2,618................. 1,328.................... 151.50
PALMA DE MALLORCA.................. 5,975........... 5,975....................... 0..................... 132,13
BERLIN (SHONEFELD).................... 21,511......... 21,511..................... 0..................... 125.15
KRAKOW....................................... 11,392......... 11,392...................... 0.................... 117.90
SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA........... 2,860.................... 0............... 2,860.................... 106.20
HAMBURG................................... 16,882........... 16,882...................... 0.................... 106.10
GOA............................................. 10,099............. 7,792............... 2,307.................... 96.364
TEL AVIV....................................... 5,363............. 5,363...................... 0..................... 87,978
KEFLAVIK.................................... 22,430............ 19,113............... 3,317.................... 82.358
FUNCHAL...................................... 9,375.............. 6,174............... 3,201.................... 77,054
ISLAMABAD................................ 20,326............ 20,326..................... 0..................... 64.33
BOA VISTA.................................... 5,308.............. 5,308..................... 0...................... 62.922
KITTILA......................................... 2,996................. 474................ 2,443.................... 62.561
HANOVER.................................... 3,853............... 3,853...................... 0..................... 57.716
ATHENS........................................ 7,080.............. 7,080...................... 0..................... 54.653
GIBRALTAR................................... 6,695.............. 6,695...................... 0..................... 48.58
CHICAGO...................................... 2,407.............. 2,407...................... 0..................... 46.59
ALMERIA....................................... 2,396.............. 2,396...................... 0..................... 45,565
TURIN........................................... 9,217.............. 5,145................. 4,072.................... 42.568
HOLGUIN...................................... 3,452.............. 3,452....................... 0..................... 42.527
TORONTO..................................... 2,297.............. 2,297....................... 0..................... 41.44
KARACHI............................................ 14................... 14....................... 0...................... 40.00
MONTEGO BAY............................. 7,684.................... 0................. 7,684...................... 39.811
ILHA DO SAL.................................. 7,681.............. 7,681....................... 0...................... 39.68

CAA provisional statistics for January are missing a number of domestic destinations.