Spread your wings a little further, direct from Manchester
17.11.2006 Passengers travelling from Manchester can benefit from even more direct flights from their local airport next summer, thanks to further expansion by Thomsonfly. The low fares airline has added an additional four low fare routes to its already increased summer 2007 network of scheduled flights, making Thomsonfly Manchester’s number one airline to the UK’s favourite sun and city destinations.
The new routes include the cosmopolitan city of Lisbon, the magical city of Marrakech and the exotic capital of Madeira, Funchal.
Thomsonfly offers a greater range of destinations than any other airline from Manchester Airport, making it the airline for the north.
Flights go on sale on 14 November with lead in prices starting from £24.99 for Lisbon, and from £34.99 to Marrakech and Funchal. All prices are one-way including taxes and charges.
Live it up in Lisbon – from £24.99 one-way, flights commence in May 2007
Lisbon is known as the white city, thanks to its unique luminosity. Full of charm from its cobbled lanes, imperial avenues and tile-clad houses to the new icons of the Vasco da Gama bridge and Parque das Nações, this is a vibrant cosmopolitan European capital.
A meander around the shops in the Chiado provides unexpected bargains while for a three-wheeled adventure; try a tour of the city in a 1940’s sidecar. At night, experience a night of soulful and emotional Portuguese national music at one of the numerous Fado houses and clubs around Lisbon. Certainly, the buzzing neighbourhood of Bairro Alto with its dozens of bars spilling out onto the streets is unforgettable.
June is a particularly good time to visit with a whole host of festivals taking place, encompassing everything from history and ancient music, to film and seafood. The Lisbon Village Festival is a celebration of all things connected to the digital generation and then in July the St Jorge Castle becomes the venue for a huge beer festival.
Feel cultural in Funchal – from £34.99 one-way, flights commence May 2007
Set on gentle slopes around a harbour, Madeira's ancient capital Funchal is an exotic and modern hive of activity that can easily be explored by foot and can now be explored as a city break. The most central point is the ‘Sé’ Cathedral, which was the first cathedral in Portugal and was constructed in 1485. Take a trip to see the stunning ‘Monte’ gardens that are situated high above the town and return to the town via the bizarre basket ride, which offers an adrenalin fix as well as stunning views!
With its amazing flora and fauna, mild winters and gentle summers, Madeira is also a walker’s paradise. Towering mountains and sweeping valleys are criss-crossed by a huge variety of walking paths. Madeira is like a giant botanical garden, with plants from all over the world. Eucalyptus and acacias from Australia, bright red poinsettias from Mexico and those brought here from the South Seas by Captain Cook.
Mystery in Marrakech – from £34.99 one-way
Known for its mystery and charm, Marrakech is perfect for a romantic weekend break, hen party or a swift shopping trip, located less than 4 hours away from Manchester. It boasts an eclectic mix of both tradition and modern, as snake charmers, singers, traders and sorcerers haunt the bustling streets whilst enchanting bewildered tourists.
Marrakech’s attraction also stems from the stylish accommodation that has been heightened in recent times. Among the winding streets of the Medina, garden houses or ‘riads’ offer visitors a truly authentic Moroccan experience. Riads consist of just half a dozen rooms around a single courtyard; most are privately operated and provide excellent personal service and individuality.
These new additions follow the launch of 11 new summer 2007 routes from Manchester earlier this month. Manchester customers can also now book low fare scheduled flights to Salzburg, Venice, Naples, Dubrovnik, Faro, Corfu, Paphos, Mahon, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.
Guy Stephenson, Thomsonfly’s commercial director comments: “Manchester is Thomsonfly’s largest base departure hub and we will continue to introduce new flight routes to meet demand from Manchester and the north-west region. Guy added, “Our ongoing aim is to offer our customers the widest choice of exciting destinations from their local airport, and our continually increasing schedule shows our commitment to the Manchester region in particular.”
Thomsonfly remains committed to providing a high level of customer service and offers allocated seating on all flights unlike the majority of low fares airlines, as well as offering passengers the opportunity to pre-reserve seats and extra legroom.
Thomsonfly offers customers a free and flexible baggage allowance totaling 25kg, of which up to 10kg can be hand luggage if desired. Thomsonfly now services 20 UK airports with low fare flights to over 80 destinations.
