UK. Manchester Airport saw a fusion of football and flamenco last week, as it celebrated the start of a new scheduled service to Spain.
Liverpool FC right back and Spanish international Josemi was among the guests at a special reception held on 18 March to welcome British Airways franchise partner GB Airways to Manchester, and the start of the new service to his home town of Malaga.
There was also traditional flamenco entertainment for invited guests and for over 100 passengers booked on the first flight which departed at 3.15pm.
In addition to launching the daily Malaga service, GB Airways is opening a new base at Manchester, creating around 140 new jobs over three years, and will also be operating flights this summer to Croatia, the Canary Islands, Cyprus and Malta.
All the flights will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft based at Manchester, increasing to three aircraft over the following two years. All flights will operate as BA services.
GB Airways Managing Director John Patterson commented: “This is a very significant event for GB Airways; not only are we serving popular leisure destinations in British Airways colours for the first time but we are showing our commitment to Manchester with the establishment of a crew base and the creation of many new jobs.
“Now passengers from the North of England have the choice of travelling in two cabins, plus all the other benefits of the British Airways product, while still paying very competitive fares.”
Manchester Airport Managing Director John Spooner added: “GB Airways setting up a base at Manchester is tremendously important. The obvious benefit is a number of additional services to popular destinations, but the move also brings valuable new jobs and a stronger commitment to the airport’s future.”
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