Excellent news indeed and, with Islamabad starting as well, makes Virgin less reliant on the US market from MAN.

Are you sure about Iran Air? It was originally supposed to be a short season until early September, but they’ve carried on, and were in last Saturday.

Oman Air has cancelled all European routes until March 31, except London and Frankfurt. On the Manchester route they are heavily reliant on transfers to India and Pakistan, so until those markets reopen for non-direct traffic, there is no point operating. As far as I know, they were not planning on dropping the route. They seemed happy with its performance and it was rumoured there would be an upgrade to 10 weekly in 2021, but a lot depends on what the carrier looks like post covid.

Iran Air remains weekly throughout the northern winter . Do you mean Saudia per chance ?

A lot of Indian /Pakistan UK flights starting in pretty tricky times. Id be surprised if they all exist in the same format in say, 18 months.

The ban on PIA own-metal flights and the demise of Jet Airways has opened up opportunities for other carriers on Manchester - India / Pakistan routes in the medium term. Hi-Fly operates on behalf of PIA at present, but only on the basis of a vastly-reduced 1 or 2 departures per week on MAN-ISB only. India routes are currently unserved. Whilst C-19 is impacting passenger flows on sub-continent (and all other) routes at the moment, we know that there is a very large latent VFR market for these destinations when virus-related travel restrictions are finally lifted. India offers established tourism potential too.

Forgive me for taking a cynical view of all of this, but it does rather smack of putting as many flights on sale as you can to generate forward ticket sales cashflow.

Perhaps, but I day suspect the booking profile on routes of this type is later than other VS routes. And not just because of pandemic travel uncertainty.

They're prioritising routes where demand can be expected to resurge quickly once the public is allowed to travel freely again. A trip to Orlando is discretionary in most instances - it can be left for another year or so if money is tight or if some family members harbour residual concerns about C-19. But if your extended family lives in Pakistan or India and you haven't been able to go and see them for ages ... well, that decision is a quite different one. Volume bookings will come in once travellers are permitted to cross borders without quarantine once again.

Iran Air are still flying, Saturdays only I'm led to believe.

VS routes to India: Although to many this may seem a little mad considering the current situation, but VS are simply changing their focus onto the VFR market along with the Pakistani routes. I'm sure they've done their homework and will be a success for them.

This was posted earlier by BHX5DME but no source was quoted

So here it is at routes online

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...as-of-14oct20/

Tehran Imam Khomeini – Manchester Previously filed 1 weekly flight during winter season removed

With T2X already complete and ready to be tested prior to official opening, is there any word from MAG/MAN management about testing the terminal with passengers?
There were rumours during the summer that it would be opening in March with testing to take place during Jan & Feb, but it's gone quiet lately. There would be more space to social distance within T2X compared to the current T1 & T3.

Appreciate any info...

Well ..this is MAG group you are dealing with here 👍

current rumour doing the rounds is that T1 will close for the winter with T3 and T2 staying open. Nothing confirmed from M.A.G though.

Rumour machine likes to go into overdrive at times...but I hope this is true and that T1 closes for good, long overdue, perfect opportunity.

T2 can't stay open as it's already closed!

But that group will all go on cheap fares with EK or transit via PIA/AI perhaps BA but not a minimally advertised new start route with VS unless offering loss making fares.

Yes, I should have specified T2 to re-open with T3 remaining open and T1 to close for maintenance. EI was supposed to have moved to T3 with the start of the BHD route, but for some reson, didn't happen, so I guess the situation is still fluid at the moment.

A random check of fares in Feb 2021 shows BA and VS charging the same amount.So why would one go via LHR when one can travel non stop for the same price ?
Also I am not so sure that the potential clientele are too enamoured with a dry PIA.
I suspect the route will be a surprising success.