VIRGIN Atlantic Airways and Delta Air Lines are increasing capacity at Manchester Airport on popular routes between the United Kingdom and the United States.

The two airlines, who launched their joint venture in January 2014, welcomed more than 4.6 million customers last year and this summer the partnership will offer up to 39 nonstop daily flights each way, including four from Manchester.

Virgin Atlantic has already boosted capacity by 26 per cent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta’s hometown airport, and a new daily nonstop Delta service between Manchester and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport will begin on May 22.

Joe Thompson, Director of Network and Alliances at Virgin Atlantic said: “Our joint venture with Delta means both airlines are better placed to meet customer demand for destinations they want to fly to.

“Our customers are already benefitting from the partnership and our new service will open up over 150 connection opportunities via Atlanta for our customers.”

Virgin Atlantic expects to fly around 165,000 passengers annually from Manchester to Atlanta and beyond, providing connections to Delta flights across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, while Delta can customers can transfer onward to more than 60 destinations.