Flight Directors has been appointed by Viking Hellas Airlines (www.flyviking.gr)
With fares starting from as little as £59 one-way, inclusive of taxes and charges, Athens is now temptingly accessible for passengers from the north of England. Currently operating on a weekly scheduled basis, the Manchester – Athens service frequency will be increased to thrice-weekly from 1st March.
Flight Directors is also handling reservations for Viking Hellas’ onward connections from Athens to the three Iraqi cities of Erbil and Sulaymanyiah in the Kurdish Government Region of Iraq and the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. Flights are scheduled to provide seamless connections to and from Manchester, providing passengers from the north of England with the fastest possible journey time between the north of England and Iraq. Fares from Manchester and Iraq, connecting in Athens, start from as little as £545 return, inclusive of taxes and charges.
Paul Argyle, Chief Executive, Flight Directors, says: ‘As one of the UK’s leading General Sales Agents with unique experience in representing lesser-known airlines in the UK, we are delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Viking Hellas and look forward to enhancing the profile of this growing airline. We have already been speaking to major travel management companies whose clients have contracts in Iraq and look forward to confirming working partnerships.’
Vikki Joyce, Sales Manager, and her UK Airline Reservations team at Flight Directors, can be reached on tel: 0871 644 8780, seven days per week, 08:00-20:00 or on email: vikinghellas@
Roger Gatt, Commercial Director of Viking Hellas, comments: ‘We felt that Flight Directors’ experience and approach as a General Sales Agent fitted well with Viking Hellas’ profile and aspirations. With the support of Flight Directors, we anticipate that the Viking Hellas Airlines new Manchester – Athens – Iraq scheduled service will be a great success.’
Flights will operate from Manchester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from Athens to Manchester on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. Viking Hellas is planning to increase frequency to four flights weekly by adding a Tuesday departure from Manchester and a Wednesday departure from Athens with effect from March 2010.
ENDS
15 February 2010
Notes to Editors
• Flight Directors represent Manchester-Athens-
• Book flights via telephone: 0871 644 8780 or email: vikinghellas@
• Flight Directors was established in 1984 and is based near Gatwick Airport
• Fares from Manchester to Athens start from £59 one way, including taxes and charges
• Fares from Manchester to Iraq, connecting in Athens, start from as little as £545 return, inclusive of taxes and charges
• All Viking Hellas Airlines routes can be booked at www.flyviking.gr
• Fares include a 20kg baggage allowance, allocated seats and complimentary in-flight meals. Passengers will also be able to purchase snacks, refreshments and duty free from an extensive in-flight bar. Extra legroom seats will be available for a small supplement.
• Viking Hellas was established in Greece in Autumn 2009 and has headquarters in Athens.
• Viking Airlines AB was established in 2003 and has headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden
• Viking Airlines AB operates Boeing B737-800 Next Generation and B737-300 which will be used to launch Viking Hellas scheduled services until its own Airbus A320s are delivered in Spring 2010
• Special, low price add-on fares are available with Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines to/from destinations served from Athens
Viking Hellas Manchester Flight Schedules
Manchester - Athens
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Depart Manchester VQ701 at 1330 hrs Arrive Athens at 1930 hrs
Athens - Manchester
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Depart Athens VQ702 at 0930 hrs Arrive Manchester at 1130 hrs
Viking Hellas Connections to Iraq
Athens – Baghdad
Mondays
Depart Athens VQ753 at 2100 hrs Arrive Baghdad at 0100 hrs*
Baghdad - Athens
Tuesdays
Depart Baghdad VQ754 at 0300 hrs Arrive Athens at 0500 hrs
Athens – Erbil
Fridays
Depart Athens VQ717 at 2100 hrs Arrive Erbil at 0100 hrs*
Erbil - Athens
Saturdays
Depart Erbil VQ718 at 0300 hrs Arrive Athens at 0500 hrs
Athens – Sulaymaniyah
Wednesdays
Depart Athens VQ735 at 2100 hrs Arrive Sulaymaniyah at 0100 hrs*
Sulaymaniyah - Athens
Thursdays
Depart Sulaymaniyah VQ736 at 0300 hrs Arrive Athens at 0500 hrs
* Denotes Arrival Next Day
For further information
Paul Argyle, Chief Executive
Flight Directors
Tel: 0871 7447471 (UK, director), +44 1293 874993
Continues..../
Roger Gatt, Commercial Director
Viking Hellas Airlines
Tel: +30 210 353 6036
Fax: +30 210 353 7808
E-mail: roger.gatt@vikinghellas.com
Ian Bradley, Director
Travel PR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8891 4440
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8891 6033
E-mail: i.bradley@travelpr.co.uk
Manchester Airport Press Office
Tel: +44 161 489 2700
Fax: +44 161 489 2702
E-mail: press.office@
…ENDS…
