Manchester Airport gets two first-ever routes to lush Greek island and Africa’s largest country

It’s a big year for Manchester Airport.

As well as emerging from a decade-long £1.3 billion makeover, it’s got a slate of new routes that bring more choice to passengers than ever before.

The UK’s global gateway in the north already offers a network unparalleled outside London, with more than 200 destinations served by 50 airlines.

But that network is expanding further in 2026, with several new services confirmed from the likes of easyJet, Jet2and Ryanair.

Of most interest to Metro readers is likely to be Jet2’s inaugural route to Samos, which left Manchester for the first time on Friday, May 1.

The Greek island, which lies just off the coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, is renowned for its golden beaches and lush, mountainous landscape.

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Like every part of Greece, Samos is steeped in history.

The Ancient Greeks considered it to be one of the most spiritual places in the Mediterranean.

Beyond its low-key resorts and the lively capital, Vathy, there are off-the-beaten-track beaches and quiet spots in the forested inland mountains where traditional life continues.

Jet2 will operate twice-weekly services on Tuesday and Friday until the end of October.

The Manchester flight will be followed by one to Samos from Birmingham Airport on May 4, and another from London Stansted on May 7.

Elsewhere, Manchester Airport has announced a first-ever route to North Africa that bosses say will ‘make a huge difference to thousands of people’.

Algeria will soon be added to the list of more than 60 countries the airport offers direct flights to.

Air Algérie has announced a new twice-weekly service to the Algerian capital Algiers starting this summer, with the inaugural flight pencilled in for Sunday, June 14.

The airport said it would be the first ever direct flight from Manchester to Africa’s largest country.

Manchester will become the only UK airport outside of London with a direct link to Algiers.

And there’s never been a better time to visit.

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Lonely Planet included Algiers as one of its top off-the-beaten-track Mediterranean destinations for 2026.

It’s just a short hop from Europe, with snow-flecked mountains and stunning coastline in the north, and surreal sand seas in the south.

It’s one of the few places in the world where you can go skiing in the mountains in the morning and hiking in the desert at night.

Travellers have previously been deterred by its famously complex visa system, but now, the ‘sleeping beauty’ of African tourism is finally waking up.

In recent years, Morocco has become popular with British holidaymakers.

But just two hours east lies comparatively undiscovered Algiers, the coastal capital known for its fascinating history, richly textured architecture and labyrinthine streets that spill down into the Bay.

We recommend a twin-city break that takes in Constantine, which featured in Metro’s places to visit for 2026.

Dubbed the ‘City of Bridges’, it is built across a deep gorge (a bit like Ronda in Spain) and connected by a network of walkways that earned the UNESCO-listed ancient city its name.

Enjoy the lot with barely another tourist in sight.