With the January blues in full swing, we’re all looking to our next getaway.
Whether it’s a faraway city like Bologna, or a sandy beach in Patmos that gives you the travel bug, there’s no shortage of holiday options.
To make matters more exiting, both Ryanair and easyJet are adding new routes from Stansted airport this year, giving us more choice than ever before.
‘We’re delighted to welcome new airlines and routes during 2026 that give our passengers even greater choice, value and convenience,’ Ciaran Brannigan, commercial director at London Stansted, says.
‘London Stansted continues to grow as a key gateway for travel across Europe and beyond, and these additions underline our commitment to offering more destinations and better connectivity for leisure and business travellers alike.’
Ryanair and easyJet’s new Stansted routes
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The first new route to become available is easyJet’s hour and 20 minute flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The budget airline carrier will begin flying to the French airport, which sits on the north-eastern outskirts of Paris, from March 5.
Currently, to get to CDG airport from Stansted, you would need to make a pitstop at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Geneve Airport, or Hamburg Airport – but as of March, you’ll be able to take the direct route for around £60.
It’s the perfect excuse to go and soak up the City of Lights, and admire the art in the Louvre.
Ryanair is also adding flight routes from Stansted, introducing 600,000 more seats to Glasgow from March 29, as well as new flights to Malmo, Sweden.
You’ll be able to jet to the Nordic country from Essex from April 1 on the Irish airline’s brand new route, with prices starting at £27.99. Flights will operate twice weekly and take an hour and 50 minutes.
If you fancy soaking up the rich history and modern architecture of the coastal city, as well as making a side-quest to Copenhagen, this could be just the ticket.
The best new flight routes coming to the UK in 2026
If you want the lowdown on all of the flight routes coming to the UK this year we’ve got you covered.
At a glance Jet2 will be launching flights from London Gatwick for the first time ever, making it even easier to get to destinations like Faro and Mallorca.
easyJet’s most exciting offering comes in the form of a new direct flight from Bristol to the Cape Verde island of Sal, which launches on May 1.
The low-cost carrier will roll out 16 new routes from eight UK airports next summer, including Bari in Italy, Seville in Spain, and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
British Airways is set to introduce a year-round route to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, an underrated spot that we wrote a lot about in 2025, as well as a seasonal route to Tivat, Montenegro.
Jet2 and TUI are adding routes too…
But these two airlines aren’t the only ones adding more routes to Stansted with Jet2 and TUI following suit.
Jet2 is expanding its summer programme with more routes to Jerez in Spain from May 1, which were originally introduced in May 2025.
Often described as Malaga with fewer crowds, Jerez is the epicentre of flamenco and the birthplace of sherry, the ‘remarkable’ sweet Spanish wine that’s suddenly back in fashion.
It’s the perfect option if you prefer a quieter hidden gem, away from tourist traps and overrated landmarks.
If you can tolerate the Jess Glynn theme tune for one more flight, the airline is also adding more flights from Samos in Greece from May 7, and La Palma in the Canary Islands from October 26.
TUI is set to introduce flights from Stansted to Kos from May 7. It’s known for its rich history and stunning landscapes. (Not forgetting the textbook sandy beaches and beautiful clear-blue sea that come as standard with a Greek Island.)
A new airline at Stansted
To top it off, Turkish Airlines will make its debut at London Stansted from March 18.
We will see 15 weekly departures to Istanbul, making it even easier for us Brits to get to Türkiye.
With a whipping 353 destinations available through Istanbul, it’s going to leave us far more connected than ever before!
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