Low-cost airline easyJet has announced plans to open new routes from Manchester Airport and add a sixth plane to its fleet already based at the airport.

The new flights will start later in the year and will go to Berlin, Belfast and Madrid.

From October, easyJet will fly to Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin five times a week, while also launching twice-daily flights to Belfast International.

Announcing the new routes, the company said the Belfast service was designed to support the north west’s economic links with Northern Ireland.

The new flights to Madrid, the seventh destination in Spain for easyJet, start on 2 November and will fly five times a week.

Ali Gatward, UK commercial manager of easyJet, said: “These three new routes cater for the full range of passengers that use our service from businesses looking to reduce their travel costs to leisure travellers seeking exciting and affordable city break destinations.

“The continued expansion of our Manchester operation reflects easyJet’s commitment to providing all travellers in the region with the best choice of destinations at the lowest possible fares.”

The airline first started operating from Manchester in March 2008, and now has 27 routes, including to Bilbao, a service that was announced last month.

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