Manchester Airport offers an excellent range of European destinations. These are flown by low-cost carriers, charter airlines or the more traditional scheduled operators, such as Air France whose Airbus A318 is pictured. In the background is a Dragonair Boeing 747-312 (SF).

PIA's largest overseas base is at Manchester, with 25 flights arriving from Pakistan every week: a number of these fly on to destinations in the US. Pictured is one of the airline's Boeing 777s.

A large number of airlines offer charter flights from Manchester to holiday destinations all over the world. Among the more interesting types operating such flights are the Tupolev Tu-154Ms of Bulgarian carrier Balkan Holidays Airlines, pictured making a spirited departure from Manchester.

A busy scene at Terminal 2, illustrating the variety of airlines which serve Manchester Airport. In the foreground is low-cost carrier Ryanair, parked next to charter operator First Choice Airways, and behind that is a host of scheduled carriers from around the world.

A Boeing 737-300 of low-cost carrier Jet 2 lifts off from one of Manchester's two runways. Until fairly recently, Manchester Airport had few low-cost carriers in its portfolio of operators, but in recent times the situation has changed significantly with the aforementioned airline, bmibaby and flybe all setting up bases.

Manchester Airport handled 148,000 tons last year. Part of this total was carried on Boeing 747 Freighters of Cathay Pacific, Dragonair and the airline pictured, China Airlines.