MANCHESTER Airport has welcomed British Midland's intention to introduce direct flights to Washington DC and Chicago.

The airline will begin the Washington service from April and Chicago from May.

New Airbus A330-200s will be used for both routes and it is expected that 250 jobs will be created.

Airport Chief Executive Geoff Muirhead said: "It is excellent that Manchester will be offering two more daily scheduled routes to the USA from next spring, opening up travel options for business and leisure passengers alike."

The latest announcement means that Manchester Airport will be operating more than 70 scheduled direct flights a week across the Atlantic.

Manchester Airport chairman Cllr Brian Harrison, welcoming the news, said: "There are tremendous opportunities for cargo operations, providing businesses on both sides of the Atlantic with a fast and efficient way to move goods."