w GREAT LAKES Chicago and Detroit have long been gateways to the US, but the jump in the number of flights to those and other entry points across the Great Lakes is proof that the region is growing as a destination in its own right. Icelandic carriers Icelandair


and Wow Air will fly to Cleveland from May 2018, Wow Air will also introduce Cincinnati and Detroit to its network, and Norwegian will operate low-cost Gatwick- Chicago flights from March 2018. These fresh services into the


Great Lakes join existing routes to Minneapolis St Paul and a Virgin-Delta link to Detroit, making it even easier for British travellers to explore. Toby McCarrick, Great Lakes


USA executive director, says: “This helps to increase the variety of air travel on offer for the holidaymaker, making the region more accessible and cost-effective. We are delighted to see the commitment from these airlines.”


w SOUTHERN SUN British Airways’ Heathrow- Nashville service starts in May 2018 and will be the only direct route from Europe to the Tennessee capital. Famous for its music scene, Nashville has more


The American Queen


These new flights are yet more proof that the low-cost long-haul revolution is here to stay


than 160 live music venues and the area’s civil war battlefields are of great historical interest.


Steamboat Company hailed the BA link, as it has two riverboats on the Mississippi, which flows through Tennessee. The cruise line’s UK representative, Rupert Thomson, says: “The direct flight is a real attraction and we now have options to book direct flights for most of our cruises – New Orleans is now served direct, as is Portland, Oregon, the home of the American Empress, which sails the Columbia River.”


w NORTH BY NORTHWEST A Heathrow-Portland service was launched by Delta this year. The carrier has also launched a Glasgow-New York JFK link and increased frequencies to Detroit and Atlanta.


Dwight James, Delta’s senior


LEFT: Norwegian is expanding its UK links to the US


ABOVE: Wow Air is adding Cleveland


FACING PAGE: BA will fly to Nashville next May


52 travelweekly.co.uk 26 October 2017


transatlantic vice-president, says: “Delta has grown its UK-US network over the past couple of years, increasing the travel options for customers on both sides of the pond. “From each of our non-stop


destinations, we have a vast onward network, enabling customers to reach 95% of North America with just one stop.” Partner airline Virgin Atlantic has increased its direct services from regional airports. It now flies to more US cities than ever – with


Seattle its latest destination. Its joint venture with Delta means passengers can connect to more than 200 destinations. Earlier this year, Virgin added 65,000 seats between Manchester and the US with the launch of three routes – New York, Boston and San Francisco – while capacity between Glasgow and Orlando increased by 20%. It launched daily links to


Seattle from Heathrow, and flights from Belfast will increase by a third in summer 2018. The airline says the


transatlantic market remains resilient, and there are few signs of a so-called ‘Trump slump’ of people boycotting the US. The exchange rate means British travellers are more price-conscious, but it’s a boon for American travellers heading to the UK. Those unfavourable exchange


rates might also help explain the rapid rise of Norwegian’s low-cost route network. Dominic Tucker, head of UK and Ireland sales, says: “The US will always be a top holiday destination for consumers and our continued expansion into the US reflects the high demand. Our US flights are more than 90% full on average as Norwegian is fast becoming front of mind for travellers.


PICTURE: DAVID PEACOCK


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