New airline routes will create ‘Man Francisco’
A NEW breed of Manchester-San Francisco ‘super commuter’ is about to be born, experts say.
Virgin Atlantic is preparing to launch Manchester’s first ever direct route to the northern Californian city on March 28 – followed by Thomas Cook in May.
It will get passengers across the pond in 11 hours, 20 minutes – as opposed to the current 14-hour journey via Heathrow.
And dubbing the trend ‘Man-Fran,’ experts say it will have a huge impact on our culture and business.
They predict a boom in entrepreneurs setting up shop in both Manchester and San Francisco. And drawing comparisons with ‘NY-Lon,’ coined a decade ago to describe the super-commuters living between New York and London, they say the similarities between the two ‘silicon cities’ are clear to see.
It’s not a big leap – the M.E.N. has compared the two cities before and found them to have much in common.
Both are northern, have a tram network, passion for music, thriving LBGT and street art scenes. And both have flourishing technology industries.
While San Francisco is built on a heritage of silicon Manchester is rebuilding itself as a British tech hub.
We are now the second biggest tech hub in the UK with 52,000 working in a sector that produces £2.2bn ever year.
Prof Sir Cary L Cooper, Alliance Manchester Business School: “The idea of Ny-Lon, or a ‘single city separated by an ocean,’ has been around for a while.
“There are more direct flights daily between London and New York than trains from Kings Cross to Edinburgh.
“With Manchester’s tech and creative industries booming, I fully expect direct flights between the city and San Francisco to catalyse something similar. Man-Fran will become a real trend.”
Craig Keeper, Virgin Atlantic CEO, said: “Manchester is the San Francisco of Britain.
“Digital, entrepreneurial, creative, cosmopolitan and dynamic: it’s got every ingredient to be a world class 21st century city.
“Our job is to connect like-minded customers together and this new route does just that.”
Operating three times weekly, the A330 flights will connect the region with world famous landmarks such as Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf.
The airline will also launch direct flights from Manchester to Boston, and passengers will be able to fly on Virgin Atlantic aircraft from Manchester to JFK, New York.
The Man-Fran trend is be boosted again in May, when Thomas Cook will begin its direct flights to the Northern Californian city.