VIRGIN Atlantic recently announced a 50 per cent rise in its flights from Manchester Airport as it launched both its first new A330 aircraft and its inaugural service to Las Vegas from the city. The significant investment by the long-haul airline will mean thousands more passengers through Manchester airport and will create 100 new jobs in the local area. Julie Southern, chief commercial officer for Virgin Atlantic, said: 'We are very proud to be announcing this growth from Manchester. The launch of the new aircraft and new route is great news for passengers and signals Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to the area. We will continue to look for future growth opportunities as this hub goes from strength to strength.' The A330 aircraft that will depart Manchester features Virgin Atlantic’s award winning premium economy and economy cabins. All A330 aircraft will feature a revolutionary new IFE system by Panasonic which uses the latest touch-screen technology allowing passengers to scroll and swipe through more than 300 hours of content quickly and easily. Later this year Virgin Atlantic travellers flying on the A330 will be able to send and receive emails and texts on their Blackberries, handheld PDAs and other mobile devices. In April the carrier launched its first direct flight between Manchester and Las Vegas with a Boeing 747-400 aircraft operating the twice-weekly service on Thursdays and Sundays.
