Virgin and Delta unveil new Manchester-US schedule

Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines are boosting flights between the UK and US from next Summer, with Delta returning to Manchester Airport once again joining forces with its partner Virgin Atlantic.

Delta will operate a new peak-Summer service to Boston, effective May 22, 2020, taking over Virgin Atlantic’s current operation. Flights will increase from the current three per week to a daily service, offering an extra 45% capacity versus last year.

Manchester will become the eighth transatlantic destination served non-stop by Delta from Boston, while flights to Atlanta, New York-JFK, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando will continue to be operated by Virgin Atlantic.

Together the airlines will offer a schedule of up to six daily flights to Manchester from six US cities next Summer.

“We’re excited to return to Manchester Airport and continue to grow our international network from Boston,” said Roberto Ioriatti, Delta’s vice president transatlantic.

“Together with Virgin Atlantic we are strengthening our presence in the North East US, offering customers a greater choice of destinations combined with the excellent service they can expect from our airlines.”

Delta will operate its Boeing 757 equipped with 15 lie-flat seats in Delta One, 44 seats in Delta Comfort+ and 105 seats in Main Cabin. Along with the Boeing 747, Virgin Atlantic operates the Airbus A332 from Manchester, which features entirely re-designed interiors.

Julian Carr, aviation director at Manchester Airport, said: “It’s pleasing to see Delta work with Virgin Atlantic to launch a daily flight to Boston from Manchester Airport. The service will prove incredibly popular with the 115,000 people in our catchment area that fly to the East Coast city each year.

“Not only is Boston a great destination for leisure travellers, the Delta service will be of great significance and use to the life science industry, and academic community here in the North, who have been wanting increased frequency on this route for some time.”

He added: “The route comes off the back of a sustained period of long-haul growth from the UK’s global gateway in the North, as we continue to play our role of connecting the region with key economic global hubs.”