Viva Las Vegas! Known for its casinos, shows, extravagance and Elvis Presley residency, the bright lights of Las Vegas are calling us Mancs. Virgin Atlantic has recently announced that direct flights from Manchester to the Nevada hotspot of Las Vegas will return from next year.
Las Vegas has always been a popular destination for travellers in the region, with the city that famously never sleeps holding a timeless appeal to people wanting to explore the illuminated playground. But Las Vegas also offers a gateway to a wide range of attractions in America’s west, from the stunning scenery of the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park to the Pacific Highway and the cities of San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.
Starting from June 2, 2024, passengers will be able to choose from three flights a week to Las Vegas, with tickets going on sale from July 2023. Flights will operate on Virgin Atlantic’s newest Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and add to the routes to Orlando, New York and Atlanta already available through Virgin Atlantic at Manchester Airport.
The new Las Vegas route makes Manchester the only airport in the UK outside London to fly directly to America’s West Coast. Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said the return of Virgin Atlantic’s direct service to Las Vegas is “hugely exciting” and it has always been one of the airport’s “most popular long-haul routes”.
The Managing Director of Manchester Airport added: “As the UK’s Global Gateway in the North, it’s great to work with airline partners like Virgin Atlantic to connect the region directly to as many destinations around the globe as possible. I am sure this service will be really popular with passengers and we look forward to continuing our work with Virgin Atlantic to further grow its route network from its Northern home in Manchester in the years to come.”
Tickets from Manchester Airport to Las Vegas will go on sale from next month, with return Economy fare flights starting from £770 per person.