Singapore Airlines launches new long-haul routes from Manchester

Singapore Airlines has kicked off its two new non-stop routes from Manchester with various celebrations at Manchester Airport along with a formal event held this morning at the Radisson Blu, Manchester Airport hotel, attended by Aviation Minister, Lord Ahmad.

The inaugural flight to Houston departed on Sunday 30 October, with Singapore Airlines celebrating by putting on a real American display with dancing cheerleaders performing at the check-in desk, along with an American themed breakfast for passengers, cake cutting and ribbon cutting ceremony at the gate.

Alongside the Minister, this morning’s formal event was attended by Singapore Airlines customers, regional businesses and dignitaries overlooking the inaugural flight, as it pushed back for its first non-stop flight to Singapore.

There were also speeches from the Minister, Singapore Airlines regional vice president for Europe Subhas Menon and Ken O’Toole, CEO of Manchester Airport. Also present was Chia Wei Wen, Deputy High Commissioner from the Singapore High Commission, and Julie Greenhill, from Texas Tourism.

The non-stop routes from Manchester will be operated five times weekly. Both routes make Manchester the only airport outside of London to offer these destinations and underpin the airport’s role within the Northern Powerhouse.

Speaking about the launch Singapore Airlines VP for Europe Subhas Menon said: “Our new non-stop routes to Houston and Singapore from Manchester are the first outside of London to offer travellers more convenient travel to Texas. We are committed to this region and want to continue to develop Singapore Airlines relationship with the people and businesses of the North West. With our partnership with Flybe, these routes are also open to travellers from 11 cities across the UK including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness”.

Lord Ahmad, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Minister for Aviation): “It is a pleasure to be in Manchester to mark the inaugural flight between Singapore, Manchester and Houston, Texas. Every year nearly 100,000 people fly from the North West to Texas or Singapore – for holiday or for business. Now they can fly directly. Leading academic institutions such as the University of Manchester have also added their welcome and highlighted how this will help strengthen research partnerships in Texas whilst businesses across the North West will now have direct access to the economic engine that is Singapore.

“Manchester Airport’s offering of new long-haul routes, coupled with its £1 billion investment, will connect the Northern Powerhouse to even more long haul destinations and is another step in building an outward facing, global Britain.”