Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks celebrate taking off to brand-new Porto for the first time

Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks have waved off their first ever flight to Porto this morning (Thursday 4^th July), after their inaugural flight departed from Manchester Airport marking the launch of the brand-new destination for Summer 24.

The busy flight signals the start of the companies offering flights and city breaks to Porto for Summer 24 from Manchester Airport until 17^th November 2024.

Today's launch follows on from the news earlier this year that Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks were bringing forward the start of flights and holidays to Porto from Summer 25 to Summer 24 on the back of huge demand. The earlier launch means customers and independent travel agents in the North West can now access the Portuguese city for the first time this summer, with weekly Thursday and Sunday services operating from Manchester Airport.

To mark their inaugural flight to Porto, Jet2.com andJet2CityBreaks held a celebration at the airport this morning. Holidaymakers on the first flight were greeted with a red-carpet welcome at the boarding gate, and cupcakes were also handed out to them, to help get them into the holiday spirit.

Customers in the West Midlands can look forward to reaching the Portuguese city in Summer 25 too. In addition to operating from Manchester Airport for Summer 25, Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks will also operate to Porto from Birmingham Airport next summer. Flights and city breaks will commence to Porto from Birmingham Airport on 27^th March 2025 with twice weekly services (Thursday and Sunday) operating from the base during Summer 25. This means the companies will be operating to northern Portugal's biggest city from both Manchester and Birmingham Airports next summer, offering customers and independent travel agents plenty of choice and flexibility when it comes to booking a cultural getaway to Porto.

Situated on the Douro River, the vibrant city of Porto offers something for every kind of holidaymaker - from fascinating history and sightseeing to mouth-watering cuisine, buzzing nightlife, and peaceful spots. Combining lively city life with beautiful beaches on northern Portugal's coastline, this brand-new destination is ideal for couples, families, and groups of friends alike. For customers seeking a culture fix, visit the selection of renowned museums and galleries, stroll the colourfully picturesque streets and hit the sought-after shopping centres, or take time to relax along the Foz do Dour's delightful promenade.

In response to customers looking for more discovery-based experience getaways, Jet2CityBreaks'Discover More packages are also on sale to the new destination for Summer 24 and 25. These packages include an enchanting Douro Valley wine tour.

The full day wine tour involves a visit to an estate port wine producer where holidaymakers will be able to savour the flavours of three local wines. After the wine tasting, customers will move on to a Quinta port wine producer for lunch, served with an expert's wine pairing. They will then be able to explore the vineyards and enjoy more tasting at a second renowned wine producer, before finishing their day with a leisurely Rabelo boat cruise in Pinhão.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: "We are delighted to see our first flight to Porto take off from Manchester Airport today and are already looking forward to seeing our inaugural flight depart from Birmingham Airport for Summer 25 too. Feedback from customers and independent travel agents has been telling us that flights and city breaks to Porto are very much in demand, and we know that this is a highly sought-after destination that customers want to experience. Since putting services on sale to Porto, customers and independent travel agents have been booking getaways to the stunning city break destination in their numbers. Whether holidaymakers want to explore a new city or enjoy a more experience-based getaway, we are offering them plenty of opportunity to get away to the Portuguese city this summer and next."

Stephen Turner, Chief Commercial Officer of Manchester Airport, said: "We connect people in the North with their choice of over 200 destinations and are proud of the breadth and depth of our route network, so it's fantastic that Jet2 has chosen Manchester for their first-ever service to Porto. Portugal is great all year-round and has really good weather in the early and later parts of the summer season so is a great option for people looking for an affordable getaway. Whether holidaymakers are lounging on the beach at Matosinhos or exploring the stunning scenery of the Douro valley, I'm sure they'll have a wonderful time."

Luís Pedro Martins, President of Porto and North of Portugal Tourism Board, said: "Strengthening air routes is a declared objective of Porto and the North of Portugal, and this is yet another proof of the attractiveness of our destination. The UK market has shown an extremely interesting performance, with a growth of 17.4% in the region in the first quarter of 2024. This operation opens up excellent prospects, as it will increase the flow from the second-largest European tourist market and the fourth-largest worldwide. The addition of another route to Portugal will correspond to an improvement in Portugal's performance in the Top-10 destination countries for the UK market and will reinforce Porto and the North's contribution to the reconfiguration of the profile and behaviour of British tourists on national soil, given the diversity on offer in the region. We welcome this new operation, which is the culmination of work we began with Jet2 about three years ago, now materialised in the connections to Manchester already in 2024 and to Birmingham from 2025, recognising the importance of Jet2 as one of the UK's leading airline companies with the highest number of passengers carried and the best performance in terms of load factor and sales capacity."

Rui Alves, Porto Airport Director, added: "Porto Airport is excited to welcome Jet2 to our network, further strengthening our connectivity and offering passengers even greater choice and convenience when traveling between Porto and Manchester. We look forward to a successful partnership with Jet2 and the positive impact it will have on tourism and travel options for our passengers."

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