Demand for flights to Skiathos, the destination airport for the sunshine island of Skopelos which served as the location for the massively successful musical “Mama Mia” have reached new heights, thanks to the popularity of the film starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan.

flythomascook.com, one of the UK’s leading flight operators, has seen demand for flights to the airport that serves the tiny Greek island rise by 80% compared to sales last year. The response has been compared to the boost in popularity the Greek island of Kefalonia received when it played host to the 2001 film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.

As a result, flythomascook.com have added regional flights from East Midlands and Newcastle airports. These additional flights compliment the flights from our main bases of Manchester and Gatwick. “Mama Mia is such a feel-good film that everyone wants to be a part of it,” says head of flythomascook.com, Henry Sunley. “Visiting the location where the film was made is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonderful island that the film so beautifully portrayed,” he adds.

Skopelos doubles as the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi in the musical, which charts the story of a bride’s quest to find her long-lost father before she weds. The film opened to rave reviews around the world and has not lost any momentum, remaining at the top of the box office charts for weeks and becoming not only the UK’s top earning film of lost year but one of the biggest grossing films in the UK of all time.

The island itself, which is accessible by ferry from Skiathos, is a lush, pine forest-covered paradise with unspoilt beaches and crystal clear waters. It is known as the greenest of the Greek islands but its real charm lies in the fact that it is completely unspoilt by commercialised resorts or complexes.

Because of the massive interest in the film, the island has found itself on top of the ‘must visit’ lists for many travellers, and demand is set to rise this year. Advice is to book early regardless of the time of year you want to travel. Sun worshippers will probably prefer to visit in July and August, while those who prefer glorious sunshine with idyllic temperatures could visit in May and June, or in September and October.

“flythomascook are the only airline that offers direct flights to Skiathos from East Midlands and Newcastle,” says Sunley. “We predict that flights are going to be very busy.” The island itself does not have an airport and is reached via Skiathos Airport and then a short ferry ride to Skopelos Village. “As you approach the island, you can see why it’s the real star of the film,” continues Sunley. “Your first glimpse of this jewel in the Mediterranean as the ferry rounds the island will take your breath away!” he adds.

For more information about flights from Manchester, Gatwick, East Midlands and Newcastle to Skiathos, visit the Flythomascook.com website.