The only routes to St Lucia and Antigua outside London are to be run this winter by Thomas Cook Airlines from Manchester via Barbados.
Both weekly flights will initially operate until the end of April 2014 with three quarters of the seats available as flight-only sales.
The Manchester-St Lucia-Barbados service will operate on a specifically configured Airbus A330 from November 10, with Manchester-Antigua-Barbados flights starting on December 19.
Flight-only prices start at £464 return. Seven-nights room-only at the three-star Butterfly Beach Hotel near Oistins in Barbados starts at £775 per person based on two people sharing, departing Manchester on November 17.
Flights will depart late morning from Manchester, allowing travellers to connect from regional airports across the UK.
Thomas Cook Group head of air travel Christoph Debus said: “It’s fantastic news that we’re able to offer UK travellers seat-only and holidays from Manchester to some of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, initially for the coming winter season.
“With the recent reduction in connections from Manchester to Gatwick limiting the travel options for those from the Midlands, the North and Scotland to connect with Caribbean flights from London, we’re pleased to be able to offer more flexibility and choice for our customers, competing with the very best scheduled and charter carriers.”
Manchester Airport Group chief commercial officer Ken O’Toole added: “Expanding the airports long-haul network is a strategic priority for Manchester Airport and Thomas Cook’s introduction of new flights this winter to St Lucia and Antigua, as well as increasing passenger choice to Barbados, will further boost the airports unrivalled route network of over 200 worldwide destinations.
“Today’s announcement closely follows the launch of the airport’s ‘Fly Manchester’ campaign, to win back the four million passenger journeys that are lost to London airports every year, and firmly reinforces the airports position as the global gateway to and from Northern England.”