easyJet and Manchester Airport have announced they will be sponsoring Manchester Pride, taking the headline spot at the Big Weekend.

It is the second time that both companies have come together to sponsor, and the third consecutive year at the event for both.

The Big Weekend is predicted to be bigger than ever with more than 100,000 visitors expected to attend.

easyJet will be boosting the numbers carrying more passengers into the city during Pride compared with last year.

In the three days running up to the event, easyJet will be flying in over an estimated 10,000 passengers with many expected to be attending the Big Weekend.

During the Bank Holiday weekend Manchester Airport is set to see 324,103 passengers come through the airport.

As part of the Big Weekend, staff from easyJet and Manchester Airport will be taking to the streets on Saturday August 23rd for the ‘Love’ themed parade which makes its way through Manchester City Centre from 13:00 with a colourful and eye-catching float encouraging the thousands to celebrate with colour, fly orange.

Mark Fletcher, chief executive, Manchester Pride, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome aboard the UK’s largest airline and Manchester Airport as this year’s lead sponsors of the Big Weekend.

“easyJet and Manchester Airport are perfect partners to help us fly the Pride flag and it’s great to receive their continued support.”

easyJet has 35 destinations on sale from Manchester Airport, including the LGBT community holiday hot spots of Mykonos, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

Manchester Airport is home to 65 airlines, serving 200 plus destinations and has over 21 million passengers a year.

Ali Gayward, easyJet UK commercial manager, said: “easyJet is proud to be at Manchester Pride 2014 as we celebrate our third year of sponsorship.

“It is testament the strong relationship we’ve built with the festival and the local community, as well as Manchester Airport, where we have continued to grow our presence.”