Thomas Cook to launch new US route from Manchester
Thomas Cook Airlines is to launch direct flights from Manchester to San Francisco next spring.
The flights are available to book from today for flights beginning in May 2017.
The airline said the new route represents ‘further progress with Thomas Cook’s strategy to expand its successful long-haul offering and create opportunities to profitably grow Thomas Cook Airline’s seat-only business’.
The airline launched flights from Manchester to Los Angeles and Boston this year and services to New York and Miami in 2015.
In addition to the new route, frequencies to Los Angeles will also increase from two to three flights per week, with Boston jumping from two to four flights per week.
Customers can connect to around 90 North American and Caribbean cities with Thomas Cook’s partner carriers.
The airline said its passenger numbers to the US had more than trebled in the past two years and it will carry almost one million this year, up 40% on 2015.
Thomas Cook’s chief airlines officer Christoph Debus said: "With seven direct US routes from Manchester, five of which we have launched in the last 3 years, we’re making good progress with our strategy to grow our long-haul network.
"It’s also great news for the North of England as not only can passengers reach the stunning scenery of Northern California direct, they are also connected with the booming business hub of Silicon Valley."
Ken O’Toole, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: "We are pleased that Thomas Cook Airlines continues to grow from Manchester Airport and look forward to working closely with them in future as they expand further.
"The addition of a new San Francisco service and increased frequency on the existing Los Angeles and Boston routes means there will be more than 2.2m seats on sale between Manchester and the States in the coming year.
"That represents growth of more than 25% over two years, with more seats added at Manchester than at any of the other top 25 airports in Europe, cementing our position as the global gateway for the North."
Thomas Cook Airlines is also launching London Gatwick-Cape Town flights in December 2016, while sister airline, Condor, has also expanded its direct flight to the US from Germany in the last two years to include Austin, Portland, New Orleans and San Diego.
Flights to San Francisco from Manchester start on 14 May 2017 with departures on from Manchester on Thursdays and Sunday.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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