It’s a big year for Manchester Airport. As well as coming off a £1.3bn decade-long makeover, it has a slate of new routes bringing more choice to passengers than ever before.
The UK’s global gateway to the north already offers an unrivaled network outside of London, with more than 200 destinations served by 50 airlines.
But this network is expanding further in 2026, with several new services confirmed by the likes of easyJet, Life2AND Ryanair.
More interested in subway readers is likely to be Jet2’s inaugural route to Samoswhich left Manchester for the first time on Friday 1st May.
of Greek The island, which lies off the coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, is known for its golden beaches and lush mountain scenery.
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Like every part of Greece, Samos is steeped in history. The ancient Greeks considered it one of the most spiritual places in the Mediterranean.
Beyond its low-key resorts and lively capital, Vathy, there are off-the-beaten-track beaches and quiet places in the forested mountains inland, where traditional life continues.
Jet2 will operate services twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays until the end of October.
The Manchester flight will be followed by a flight to Samos Birmingham Airport on May 4 and another from London Stansted on May 7.
Elsewhere, Manchester Airport has announced a first ever route to North Africa which bosses say will “make a huge difference to thousands of people”.
Algeria It will soon be added to the list of more than 60 countries where the airport offers direct flights.
Air Algérie has announced a new service twice a week for Algerian capital Algiers starting this summer, with the inaugural flight scheduled for Sunday, June 14.
The airport said it would be the first direct flight from Manchester to Africa’s largest country.
Manchester will become the only UK airport outside London with a direct link to Algiers.
And there’s never been a better time to visit.
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Lonely Planet included Algiers as one of its top Mediterranean destinations for 2026.
Home to magnificent Roman ruins, historic cities and otherworldly landscapes, Algeria has all the ingredients for a classic bucket list adventure.
It’s just a short hop from Europe, with snowy mountains and stunning coastline to the north and surreal sandy seas to the south.
It is one of the few places in the world where you can ski in the mountains in the morning and hike in the desert at night.
Travelers have previously been put off by its notoriously complex visa system, but now, the ‘sleeping beauty’ of African tourism is finally waking up.
In recent years, Morocco has become popular with British holidaymakers.
But just two hours to the east lies relatively undiscovered Algeria, the coastal capital known for its fascinating history, richly textured architecture and labyrinthine streets that spill out into the bay.
We recommend a Twin Cities vacation that Constantine takes, which appeared in Metro places to visit for 2026.
Called the “City of Bridges”, it is built over a deep gorge (slightly like Ronda in Spain) and connected by a network of paths that gave the UNESCO-listed ancient city its name.
Have a lot of fun with another tourist in sight.
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