THE country’s largest tour operator is launching flights from a major UK airport to a popular holiday hotspot in Europe.
Jet2 has confirmed that a new route will operate between Manchester Airport and Porto – just in time for the school summer holidays.
While the new route doesn’t technically touch down in Fafe (the cheapest city in Portugal), it is the closest airport to the city that serves British holidaymakers.
The new route, which was set to launch in 2025, will be introduced one year earlier than planned by the UK airline.
Two weekly flights will operate between the two cities from July 4, 2024, until November 3, 2024.
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Porto are set to launch in 2025, the following summer.
There’s plenty to do in the colourful coastal city too, which is famous for its production of port.
As well as loads of restaurants and bars in picturesque settings, the city has ten miles of beach, so you’ll never be fighting for a place to plonk your towel.
Other key attractions include the Livraria Lello bookshop, which is said to have inspired Hogwarts with its ornate carved staircase, which, locals swear, moves — just like in her tale.
Further outside of Porto, there are other, lesser-known, towns and cities that holidaymakers from Manchester will be able to reach with greater ease, including Fafe, which was recently named the cheapest city in Portugal.
Fafe is a 50-minute drive away from Porto Airport, and according to research from the Porto Travel Guide, holidaymakers can book hotel rooms for just £10.61 per night.
Food and drink is cheap too, with a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costing as little as £3.55 per person, while pints of beer cost just 96p.
In a press release, Steve Heapy, boss of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, praised the new route.
He added: “Since announcing the launch of the brand-new city destination of Porto, we have experienced phenomenal demand.
“We always listen to what our customers and independent travel agent partners are telling us so we have acted quickly to bring forward the launch of Porto by a whole year, meaning flights and city breaks to Porto are now available from Manchester Airport for Summer 24.
“As the largest operator of European city breaks this expands our programme are even further, and we know this news will be a huge hit with customers looking to travel to this superb city.”
Jet2 isn’t the only airline opening new routes from the UK to holiday destinations across the globe.
British Airways will be resuming flights from London Stansted for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The flag carrier has confirmed that three new routes will depart from the London airport, with prices starting at £36 for a one-way ticket.
Budget airline Ryanair is launching flights to Spain, Portugal, and Malta, from Norwich Airport.
As it stands, the airport only serves a handful of foreign destinations, which means the Ryanair expansion is great news for holidaymakers in East Anglia.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
The flights will run on both Mondays and Fridays, according to the aviation website Simple Flying.
Ryanair is also launching flights from Cornwall Airport and Cardiff Airport, with new routes to Paris and Faro among some of those announced.
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