Virgins Atlantic Plans Short Haul Services

Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced plans to commence
flight operation from London Heathrow to Manchester Airport from March 2013 in
competition with British Airways on short haul service.

The new route is the airline’s first foray into domestic
flying, signalling the start of a new network which will provide regional feed
to its long haul service as well as point to point service to its passengers.

The Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Steve Ridway
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
omni-present BA, keep fares low and give consumers a genuine choice of airline
to fly to Heathrow and beyond.

Also speaking, the Chief Commercial Officer of Manchester
Airports Group (MAG), Ken o’Toole said, “we are pleased to see Virgin Atlantic
increasing their presence in Manchester and to see competition returning on the
London route, as that will be the benefit of passengers flying from our
airport”.

“Virgin is already a strong carrier at the airport with long
haul routes to Barbados, Orlando and Las Vegas and this move adds to their range
of services for the North of England.

We aim to support our airlines as they look to grow and we
hope the success of Virgin’s domestic services will lead to further expansion
at Manchester”, he added.