Virgin Atlantic is set to open its first Clubhouse at Manchester Airport next spring.
Upper Class (business) customers and Gold Card members will get access to the lounge, which will include a la carte dining and a full-service bar, quiet working spaces and a spa.
The existing Virgin Holidays V-room at Manchester will also be refurbished.
Virgin currently has Clubhouses at Heathrow, Gatwick, JFK (pictured above), Newark Liberty, LAX, San Francisco, Boston, Washington DC and Johannesburg.
The carrier operates out of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, which is currently undergoing a huge renovation and expansion project that will see it double in size.
A new entrance, security hall, access road, car park, departure area and lounge spaces are set to open in 2020, at which point the rest of the terminal will close for a two-year renovation.
By 2024, all flights out of Manchester will be flying from Terminal 2 and a refreshed Terminal 3, after which Terminal 1 will be demolished.
Virgin also today announced that it would increase flights from Manchester for winter 2019, offering an extra 30,000 seats year-on-year.
This will come from a third weekly service to Barbados running through the winter season, and capacity being increased on its New York service due to more flights being operated by a Boeing 747.
Virgin recently announced various service increases between the US and UK for 2020, including the launch of a daily service between Gatwick and JFK on May 21, 2020, the increase of its Heathrow-Seattle route from seven to 11 flights per week, and the increase of its Heathrow-LA route from 14 to 17 flights per week.
Virgin and Delta boost US services from Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester
The airline also said it would soon announce details of additional capacity from Gatwick and Manchester to Orlando.
Juha Jarvinen, Virgin’s EVP Commercial, commented:
“As part of our growth strategy, we have long-since held an ambition to expand in Manchester and that is reflected in a significant 92 per cent increase in seat capacity since 2014.
“Schedule expansion this winter, coupled with our first ever Clubhouse in the North, demonstrate our clear commitment to the region.
“There is a huge opportunity for Virgin Atlantic here. We want to be the airline of choice for customers travelling from Manchester Airport and we’re eager to build upon our announcement today, with a greater number of new flights and destinations to follow in the near future.”
