Thousands set to fly from Manchester to Munich for Oktoberfest

More than 10,000 passengers are set to fly from Manchester to Munich over the next two weeks as the Bavarian city marks its world-famous Oktoberfest celebrations.

The autumn festival, which has been celebrated in the Bavarian city for more than 200 years, began on Saturday, 20th September, and runs until Sunday, 5th October.

Manchester Airport is the only airport in the north of England with direct flights to Munich, and thousands will be taking advantage of those connections to join revellers from across the globe for the festivities.

The 10,000 passengers set to travel in the next two weeks is a 25 percent uplift on normal passenger numbers to Munich at this time of year, reflecting the huge popularity of Oktoberfest.

Germany’s national airline Lufthansa operates daily flights from Manchester to Munich and is marking the occasion with a special edition ‘Oktoberfest Moment’ meal box, including a complimentary drink with pre-orders. Drink options include Munich beer and Oktoberfest staple, Paulaner. easyJet also flies from Manchester to Munich.

Oktoberfest traces its roots back to street parties celebrating the wedding of Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig and his wife Princess Therese in 1810 and soon became an annual tradition. Festivities centre on the Theresienwiese, a fairground near Munich’s Old Town. Most partygoers will spend the bulk of their time here, where they will enjoy parades, music and cultural performances, fairground rides, and visitor attractions, along with more than 30 tents operated by local restaurants and breweries – the largest of which can accommodate up to 10,000 people at one time.

Other popular activities for visitors to Munich include;

– Exploring the Old Town, including the historic Marienplatz town square and the New Town Hall, one of Germany’s most iconic pieces of architecture.

– Enjoying the great outdoors in the English Garden, a sprawling public park on the River Isar with almost 50 miles worth of jogging and cycling trails.

– A visit to Munich’s regal palaces, stately homes, and castles, including Nymphenburg Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle, said to have inspired the Disney castle.

– Watching Bayern Munich in action. The German footballing giants, captained by England striker Harry Kane, host Werder Bremen this coming Friday evening.

Stephen Turner, Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport, said:

“We’re proud to connect the people of the North with the destinations they want to go to, and Munich is a popular city break destination year-round – but there’s no better time to visit than during Oktoberfest, and clearly, thousands of people agree!

“It’s fantastic to be able to offer direct flights to Munich with two different airlines, and with flights departing every day, passengers have plenty of flexibility and choice when booking their trip.

“There’s a real sense of excitement on Munich flights at this time of year, and we are working with partners at easyJet and Lufthansa to ensure passengers’ Oktoberfest experiences get off to a great start right here in Manchester.”