Low-cost airline Virgin Atlantic has announced it will offer London Heathrow to Manchester flights starting in March 2013. This addition will put Virgin Atlantic in direct competition with full-service British Airways which currently dominates this short-haul route.
Virgin Atlantic aims to launch London – Manchester flights by March 31, 2013, and will initially operate three daily flights using leased Airbus A319 aircraft.
In a statement, Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway said: “Flying between Heathrow and Manchester is just the start for Virgin Atlantic’s new short-haul operation.
We have the means to connect thousands of passengers to our long-haul network as well as to destinations served by other carriers. Our new service will provide strong competition to omnipresent BA; keep fares low and give consumers a genuine choice of airline to fly to Heathrow and beyond.”
