New Route for MAN

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By: Future Pilot - 13th September 2005 at 13:19

Icelandair announced yesterday that it will begin direct flights, twice a week, between Iceland and Manchester, England next April.
In a statement, Jón Karl Ólafsson, president and CEO Icelandair, said, “We have realised the need for an additional gateway from the UK to compliment the existing service from London Heathrow and Glasgow with Manchester Airport the perfect choice. With this addition to the route network, Icelandair strives to service the tourism market in England better and opens up a new channel for Icelandair to travel to exciting places in England”.

Jón Karl added, “The powerful marketing efforts of Icelandair in Britain in the last years and decades have resulted in three time increase of tourist volume to Iceland from 1995."

A few years ago, Icelandair attracted considerable publicity when it ran a controversial marketing campaign using slogans such as "Fancy a dirty weekend" and ""Reykjavík - A one night stand". The campaign was heavily criticized by Icelandic women, but Icelandair justified the campaign by saying it was meant to appeal to the British sense of humor.

Jón Karl also said that Manchester was the central point of a densely populated area with the number of residents similar to the total number of residents in Denmark, Sweden and Norway combined, and that the flying time to Iceland was only two and a half hours.

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=154648

Some fantastic news for Manchester, especially the spotters :D

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By: bmi-star - 13th September 2005 at 14:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Very good news indeed!!

Do remember, spotters have seen an Icelandair 757 all summer Tom, TF-FII for bmi :D

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By: Future Pilot - 13th September 2005 at 14:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Do remember, spotters have seen an Icelandair 757 all summer Tom, TF-FII for bmi :D

But of course :D, seeing them with Icelandair titles is something different though ;)

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By: Grey Area - 13th September 2005 at 14:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

They do appear on sub-charters from time to time so they're not exactly a rare sight at MAN.

Still good news, though. :)

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By: Future Pilot - 13th September 2005 at 14:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Fine, not being a MAN local I wouldn't know :D

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By: GKirk - 13th September 2005 at 15:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Palma,Ibiza, Alicante and Malaga with Thomsonfly.com also. Frequencies not know yet.

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By: LBARULES - 13th September 2005 at 17:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Excellent news with Icelandair, would love to visit Iceland.

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By: T5 - 13th September 2005 at 18:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I'd also love to visit but its not particularly cheap, especially not with Icelandair.

Iceland Express is a more affordable option.

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By: lbaspotter - 13th September 2005 at 19:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Thomsonfly.com timetable for Manchester

Manchester – Alicante
TOM3171 07:50 11:40 -2----- 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM4572 08:35 12:25 -----6- 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM5017 16:20 20:10 ---45-- 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM1877 17:55 21:45 1-----7 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
Alicante – Manchester
TOM4528 13:20 15:10 -----6- 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM3172 20:25 22:15 -2----- 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM5018 21:20 23:10 --45-- 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM1878 22:55 00:45 1-----7 01/05/2006 - 31/10/2006

Manchester – Malaga
TOM6291 07:30 11:35 ---45-- 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM4143 07:45 11:50 ------7 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM4763 07:45 11:50 -----6- 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM2151 16:40 20:50 -2---- 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM2151 16:40 20:50 1----- 22/05/2006 - 30/10/2006
Malaga – Manchester
TOM6292 12:40 14:40 ---45-- 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM4144 12:50 14:50 ------7 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM4764 12:50 14:50 -----6- 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM1898 21:05 23:05 -2----- 02/05/2006 - 31/10/2006
TOM1898 21:05 23:05 1------ 22/05/2006 - 30/10/2006

Manchester – Palma
TOM2457 00:05 03:40 -----6- 27/05/2006 – 07/10/2006
TOM2423 07:30 11:05 ----5-- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM5463 07:45 11:20 ---4--- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM5869 07:45 11:20 -2----- 09/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM2391 08:00 11:35 -2----- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM3373 08:20 11:55 -----6- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM3017 17:30 21:05 ------7 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM5731 17:50 21:25 1------ 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM1797 19:10 22:45 ---4--- 04/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM1813 23:35 03:10 -----6- 15/07/2006 – 23/09/2006
Palma – Manchester
TOM1814 04:10 05:55 ------7 16/07/2006 – 24/09/2006
TOM2458 04:50 06:35 -----6- 27/05/2006 – 07/10/2006
TOM2392 12:20 14:10 -2----- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM5464 12:20 14:05 ---4--- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM8570 12:20 14:05 -2----- 09/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM3374 12:55 14:40 -----6- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM2424 19:35 21:20 ----5-- 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM3018 22:05 23:50 ------7 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM5732 22:25 00:10 1-----7 01/05/2006 – 31/10/2006
TOM1798 23:55 01:40 ---4--- 04/05/2006 – 05/10/2006

Manchester – Ibiza
TOM6053 00:40 04:20 ------7 02/07/2006 - 24/09/2006
TOM6933 00:55 04:35 -----6- 27/05/2006 - 25/09/2006
TOM2471 06:10 09:50 --3---- 03/05/2006 - 28/10/2006
TOM4611 16:25 20:05 -----6- 03/05/2006 - 28/10/2006
TOM1017 17:20 21:00 ----5-- 03/05/2006 - 28/10/2006
TOM4631 22:45 02:35 1------ 27/05/2006 - 25/09/2006
Ibiza – Manchester
TOM4632 03:35 05:15 -2----- 27/05/2006 - 25/09/2006
TOM6054 05:30 07:10 ------7 02/07/2006 - 24/09/2006
TOM6934 05:45 07:25 -----6- 27/05/2006 - 25/09/2006
TOM2472 10:50 12:30 --3---- 03/05/2006 - 28/10/2006
TOM4612 21:05 23:50 -----6- 03/05/2006 - 28/10/2006
TOM1018 22:10 23:50 ----5-- 03/05/2006 - 28/10/2006

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By: David Kerr - 13th September 2005 at 21:45 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

They do appear on sub-charters from time to time so they're not exactly a rare sight at MAN.
Still good news, though. :)

Not the first time they've flown here on scheduled service - summer 1997 and also in 2001 when TF-FIW operated charters over the weekend, after arriving as a scheduled service. Let's hope it lasts a bit longer this time round.

David