Tour operator Thomas Cook has been forced to upgrade the aircraft it uses for the popular Manchester to Almeria route due to increased demand from passengers. An Airbus A330-200, which seats over 300 passengers and has a double aisle, was used on the 23rd of July as the standard 200 seater plane had insufficient capacity. Sources from Almeria airport said that it was probably the largest passenger plane that has ever landed there.
Thomas Cook appears to be delighted with the success of its routes into the province and has increased seating capacity on both its UK and Belgium routes, almost doubling capacity for this summer.
Brussels is the destination that is seeing the most growth this summer. From last years single weekly flight, Thomas Cook is running four weekly flights until November. Other airlines flying to Brussels from Almeria include Ryanair and Jet Air Fly.
From July until September Thomas Cook is doubling the capacity to Manchester, having twice weekly flights. After September the flight capacity will drop back down to once a week. Flights to London and Birmingham will remain on the weekly plan.
After the recent Tunisia terrorist attacks, tour operators are anticipating that many northern Europeans will start to shift their holiday destinations back to Spain, although Turkey is likely to attract more tourists than Spain. However, both the mainland and the Canary Islands have seen airlines increase capacity in anticipation.
Low cost UK airline Monarch has also confirmed that they will be flying between Manchester and Almeria airport throughout this winter twice weekly. Flights will be on Monday, Thursday and Sundays until September, and on Thursdays and Sundays from then until November. From November until next March, flights will be on every Friday with additional flights on Mondays during the peak season only. Monarch has also confirmed a Sunday only Luton – Alicante route for this winter. However the airline refuses to say if it is considering restarting its previously popular Birmingham – Almeria route.
A complete list of Almeria Airport destinations can be found at http://goo.gl/3ooFD2.