OREANDA-NEWS. Miami International Airport added its newest international destination - and welcomed its latest international carrier - when Thomas Cook Airlines launched passenger service between Miami and Manchester, England, last week. The twice-weekly nonstop flights operate on Fridays and Sundays utilizing Airbus A330-200 aircraft arranged in a 322-seat, two-class configuration. Thomas Cook Airlines is part of the Thomas Cook group of airlines and travel products, with subsidiary carriers in Belgium and Germany.

Officials from MIA and Thomas Cook celebrated the new service last week by welcoming the inaugural arrival from Manchester with a traditional water cannon salute and holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration for the inaugural departure flight to Manchester. The gate-side ceremony included a proper English tea party for outbound passengers - in addition to the traditional cake - and remarks by Miami-Dade Aviation Department Chief of Staff Joe Napoli and Nick Sandham, Head of UK Airline Communications for Thomas Cook Airlines.

"Thomas Cook Airlines' new direct service to Manchester offers our customers another great international travel option and is just the latest way that MIA is connecting our community to the world," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. "Now more than ever before, we are committed to building a truly global route network one destination and one airline at a time."

Located in England's North West region, Manchester is known for its live music scene, top-flight soccer clubs, and major transportation hubs, as well as for its rich history. The new service to Manchester represents MIA's 16th current destination in Europe and its second destination in the United Kingdom.