Flight Directors appointed as UK and Ireland General Sales Agent for Viking Hellas Airlines

PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 15, 2010 – Flight Directors has been appointed by Viking Hellas Airlines (www.flyviking.gr), the Greek airline associated with Viking Airlines AB of Sweden, to handle reservations for the newly-launched scheduled Viking Hellas service from Manchester to Athens, with onward connections to three Iraqi cities.

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@flightdirectors.com.  For online bookings go to www.flyviking.gr .

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-Iraq routes only

•   Book flights via telephone: 0871 644 8780 or email: vikinghellas@flightdirectors.com

•   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@manairport.co.uk

…ENDS…

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