Sky’s the limit for Manchester Airport

A fitting tribute to the benefits of investing in the UK has been launched with Emirates Airline’s inaugural Airbus A380 journey from Manchester to Dubai.

The flight, which was almost full to capacity, is the first of a two-a-day service planned by the company.

It has been supported by a £10 million investment in Manchester Airport’s infrastructure, most of it going on work to strengthen runways, move back signs and a new fire engine to allow the huge aircraft, which sits 517 people and contains shower spas and a cocktail bar, to land.

Maurice Flanagan, the 81-year-old Executive Vice Chairman of Emirates who founded the airline in 1985 for the ruling Al Maktoum family, said he was “ecstatic” at the launch of the service.

“Manchester is bursting at the seams, there is not enough capacity and we needed first class seats,” he said.

“Our two flights a day from Manchester are more profitable than Gatwick which has three flights a day. There is no other regional airport with the demand that Manchester has.”

Richard Critchley, Greater Manchester Chamber’s transport policy manager, added: “This is a great vote of confidence in Greater Manchester and the airport, proving that the city can compete with the likes of Heathrow for international services.

“The new plane will provide additional daily capacity, welcoming businesses and tourists with the highest quality airline facilities.”

Emirates Airline says the “superjumbo”, the world’s only twin-deck airliner, is the most environmentally-friendly vessel in the skies.

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