New flights to Philadelphia announced

American carrier US Airways has announced that it is to begin flights between Heathrow Airport and Philadelphia next year.

The new daily service will begin on March 29th and will see flights take off from London at 12:50 GMT, with the return leg departing at 22:45 local time. Airbus A330 planes will be used on the route.

US Airways said that the new service - its first to Heathrow Airport - will see its transatlantic routes increase to 20. It currently operates a range of flights to destinations in the USA, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America from Philadelphia.

"We were fortunate to identify a unique opportunity to acquire landing and takeoff rights at Heathrow, and given Heathrow's importance as a European gateway as well as its close proximity to London for business travellers, we are pleased to take advantage of that opportunity," commented US Airways president Scott Kirby.

Attractions in Philadelphia include a range of historic sites across a square mile area, the oldest art museum in the USA and tax-free clothes shopping.

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