A NEW route between the UK and one of the cheapest cities in Europe has launched this week.
Jet2 announced the new service earlier this year and the first flights touched down yesterday.
The budget airline made sure the new route was operating between Manchester Airport and Porto in time for the school summer holidays.
Initially, the service was due to take off in 2025, but was moved forward and introduced one year earlier.
Now two weekly flights are travelling between the two cities throughout the summer until November 3 this year.
Porto is one of the most affordable cities in Europe, making it an ideal holiday spot for Brits.
Introducing Porto revealed that prices in the city “are quite inexpensive, especially eating out and entry fees to museums and attractions”.
They added: “Keep in mind that in Porto, churches are free to visit and most sights are quite accessible.”
A beer in the city is between €1-2 (85p – £1.69) according to Porto Sidecar Tours.
Meanwhile, a room for two can be booked for around £27 per night.
Visitors can also head to the new “wine theme park” World of Wine.
This consists of a huge complex in the city’s wine quarter, with seven museums, 12 restaurant, bar and café spaces, a wine school, shops, an exhibition hall and event space.
Wine isn’t the only product celebrated at the World of Wine, however, with a working chocolate factory also up and running at the park.
The Chocolate Story tells the history of coca while also taking visitors behind the scenes of the factory and giving them the chance to taste some of the items produced there.
Time Out described World of Wine as “basically a big theme park for those who like a tipple (or three)” and said it’s likely going to become “a major draw for vinho experts and novices alike”.
Luckily for Brits, Manchester isn’t the only airport with new Jet2 flights to Porto either.
Hand luggage rules for UK airlines
We’ve rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare.
Ryanair
One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
EasyJet
One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg
TUI
One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg
British Airways
One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg
Virgin Atlantic
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg
New flights from Birmingham Airport to the Portuguese city are also due to launch in 2025, providing even more links.
Jet2 also revealed that several other flights will be available from Birmingham for the 2025/26 winter season – with the airline making an announcement early to allow travellers to beat the rush.
They include routes to Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Turin.
The new flights will provide access to the French, Austrian, Swiss and Italian Alps, and the Tyrolean Mountains for Birmingham-based winter sports fans.
Meanwhile, easyJet is launching a brand new route to this popular walled city.
And Jet2 has also started flying to this romantic European city.