easyJet continues to refine its growth strategy in the United Kingdom with the announcement of three new international routes that will connect Newcastle and Manchester with Italy and Portugal starting in the summer of 2026. This move is part of the airline’s largest-ever summer operations programme, coinciding with its 30th anniversary.
The new connections directly target the heart of the European leisure travel market, combining in-demand city destinations with emerging holiday markets, while reinforcing the relevance of regional bases outside London.
New Routes from Newcastle: Rome Fiumicino and Lisbon
Rome Fiumicino: Schedule aligned with seasonal demand
easyJet will launch the Newcastle to Rome Fiumicino route on 30 March 2026, strategically synchronised with the start of the Easter holiday period. Operations will run twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays—a schedule clearly designed for both cultural getaways and multi-day stays.
Promotional fares start from £33.99 (taxes included), positioning the route aggressively against both traditional and low-cost competitors.
Lisbon: City breaks and Iberian connectivity
The second new route from Newcastle will be to Lisbon, with operations starting on 22 June 2026, also twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. The operational pattern mirrors that of Rome and strengthens the appeal of long weekend trips, one of the airline’s most profitable segments.
Initial fares start from £43.99, reflecting a market with strong seasonal demand and a high tourism component.
Manchester Adds Bari and Expands the Southern Italy Map
From Manchester, easyJet will introduce a new route to Bari, in the Apulia region—one of the Italian destinations that has seen the strongest growth in international tourism in recent years.
- Start of operations: 3 July 2026
- Frequency: Two weekly flights (Mondays and Fridays)
- Initial fare: From £38.99
easyJet holidays: The key component of the integrated model
All three new routes will be supported by easyJet holidays, which will offer complete packages to Rome, Lisbon, and Bari, including:
- Flight and hotel
- 23 kg checked baggage
- Transfers included in beach holiday packages to Bari
The product is further backed by an aggressive commercial policy: deposits from just £60 per person, designed to stimulate advanced demand and capitalise on periods of lower economic pressure, such as pre-pay day in the UK.
An Expansion That Strengthens the UK Network
According to Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s Country Manager for the UK, the airline aims to expand options and connectivity for both cultural getaways and sun-and-beach holidays, while maintaining its historic commitment to “making travel easy.”
This announcement is framed by a key figure that illustrates the scale of the move: more than 50 million seats will be offered to and from the UK during the summer—the largest volume ever operated by easyJet in the country.
Currently, the airline operates from 22 UK airports, with over 640 routes to more than 140 destinations across Europe and other markets.
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