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Vegas welcomes new bmi service
Las Vegas tourism chiefs have welcomed a new air link from the UK being launched by bmi.
The airline is to fly three times a week from Manchester to the US gambling mecca from 31 October.
Bmi becomes the second scheduled carrier after Virgin Atlantic to offer flights from the UK to Las Vegas.
Bmi will use Airbus A330 aircraft on the route in a three-class configuration with fares starting at £399 return.
The new route, plus improvements to the airline’s Caribbean network from Manchester this winter, came as the airline voiced concern at its inability to start transatlantic services from Heathrow.
Bmi chief executive Austin Reid said: “We continue to be frustrated that these benefits are being denied to long haul transatlantic passengers from Heathrow, following the recent set-back in talks to free up Heathrow to new, much needed vigorous competition.”
News of new Manchester link came as Las Vegas revealed that UK visitor numbers grew by 63% in the five months to the end of May over the same period last year. The city claims it is largely responsible for a 14% rise in UK visits to the US to 1.8 million over the period.
Las Vegas, which marks its centenary in 2005, attracts more than 325,000 UK visitors a year.
The new flights were welcomed by Stella Clery Ackland, managing director of Cellet Travel Services, which represents Las Vegas in the UK.
She said: With 2005 being the Centennial year we are expecting visitors to come and celebrate starting from new year’s eve when the million dollar firework display along The Strip commences.”
Report by Phil Davies
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