North West gains Iraq flight connection

 

 

Flights between Manchester and Athens then onward to Iraq are to start next month.

 

The three-times weekly scheduled service from Manchester will run from February 1 with onward connections to three Iraqi cities.

 

Prices to Athens start at £59 one way including taxes and charges.

 

The service is being provided by Viking Hellas, a Greek airline associated with Viking Airlines AB of Sweden.

 

Current routes to Athens from the North West of England require at least one change of aircraft with other European carriers.

 

Viking Hellas is also starting weekly scheduled services from Athens to the cities of Erbil and Sulaymanyiah in the Kurdish government region of Iraq and the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

 

Flights are scheduled to provide connections to and from Manchester.

 

Fares from Manchester to Iraq, connecting in Athens, start at £545 return, inclusive of taxes and charges.

 

Athens flights will operate from Manchester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from Athens to Manchester on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

 

Viking Hellas plans to increase frequency to four flights a week by adding a Tuesday departure from Manchester and a Wednesday departure from Athens from March.

 

The carrier has established agreements with Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines to provide connections to their flight networks at the Greek capital.

 

This provides passengers with the opportunity to connect to and from other Greek cities, the Greek Islands, the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

 

The airline’s commercial director Roger Gat said: "There is considerable demand for Iraqi services from the UK due to the sizeable expatriate community that currently has very few options to return home; this new service is a lifeline for them.

 

"Viking Airlines AB has operated flights from Sweden to the country for a number of years without incident and we are pleased to be providing another option for travellers to Iraq."

 

Andrew Harrison, Manchester Airport's Commercial Director said, "It's great news that Viking Hellas Airlines are starting their first scheduled service from Manchester Airport, complementing the extensive charter programme already operated. 

 

"Athens is a strong destination with high year round demand. Viking Hellas will offer a variety of connections ranging from the Greek islands to several points in Iraq thus giving the North West region an even greater choice."

 

by Phil Davies