EASYJET is to undertake its largest ever expansion at Manchester Airport in winter 2018, which will see the airline adding five new aircraft, carrying an extra 1.5 million passengers annually and launching five new routes.

With the expansion easyJet will create 175 direct jobs and it’s estimated the move will also lead to 1,500 indirectly, providing a boost to the economy of Greater Manchester with new economic connections for the region to new destinations of Innsbruck, Lanzarote, Faro, Barcelona and Bordeaux. The new routes will start from November 2.

Ali Gayward, UK Country Manager, easyJet, said: “This announcement to expand our operations in Manchester is fantastic news for the north west, and will create thousands of new jobs supporting the local economy and both inbound tourism as well as even more choice for consumers in the north west.

“Our growth of an additional five aircraft next summer will be the biggest single investment easyJet will make in the entire network in 2019, and reflects our commitment to Manchester, providing customers even better connectivity with new NEO aircraft to new destinations and more choice than ever before.”

Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “We’re delighted to see easyJet’s commitment to Manchester Airport and the region with the announcement of five new aircraft and five new routes. It will provide our passengers with even greater choice when they come to book their holidays.

“Their growth will also create hundreds of jobs, which along with the £1bn investment we are making in the transformation of the airport, demonstrates the various ways in which the region benefits from having a thriving international gateway.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “This expansion by easyJet is to be welcomed and is clear evidence that Greater Manchester is a globally-facing city-region that’s open for business.”