routes

A SMALL airport in the UK could relaunch flights that would take Brits right to the beach.

Blackpool Airport once offered passenger flights to places in Europe such as Spain.

However, these ended back in 2014 when the airport went into administration.

Now, the airport remains open as a training centre, such as for pilots and helicopter operations.

But there could be hope for relaunching passenger flights from it in the next few years.

Sadly, none of the major airlines have said they would want to launch flights, Blackpool South MP Chris Webb said, which include previously operating ones like Jet2.

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He told local media: “I have spoken with all the airlines and they don’t have any interest in flying from Blackpool again.”

Despite this, an anonymous London businessman has suggested the launch of a small-scale airline which would connect London to Blackpool.

If it went ahead this could launch as quickly as two years – and connect the main city to one of the UK’s most iconic beach resorts.

However Mr Webb said a lot of things would have to change first, including “better facilities, bigger passenger lounge and a better building”.

He added: “But it would certainly be viable, if handled correctly.

“Blackpool is one of the biggest tourism destinations in the UK, it is crying out for a properly run airport.”

It isn’t the only airport hoping to relaunch passenger flights in Britain.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in 2022, is in the process of reopening.

And there is also Manston Airport in Kent, which has been closed to passengers since 2014.

Sadly, Coventry Airport closed for good last month, after 90 years.

Military command issues threat a day after Qatari mediators hailed ‘positive progress’ in indirect US-Iranian talks.

Iran’s military command has threatened ships that attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz using unapproved routes with a “forceful response,” casting new doubt over trade flows in the critical conduit for global energy supplies.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters issued the threat on Thursday, a day after Qatari mediators hailed indirect negotiations between US and Iranian officials as making “positive progress” towards a peace deal.

“Any failure to comply with and depart from the designated route or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, and will endanger the security of the offending vessels,” the military command said in a statement carried by the country’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

While Tehran did not specify what prompted the warning, it came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday said it had presided over a security dialogue in Bahrain during which regional leaders expressed their commitment to the “free flow of commerce” in the strait.

Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi hit out at CENTCOM’s statement on Thursday, saying the forum “cannot establish legal order and security for the Persian Gulf”.

“The region’s security will be ensured through the end of interventions and the US withdrawal from the area, respect for countries’ sovereignty, and acceptance of new geopolitical realities – not under the military umbrella of America,” Gharibabadi said in a post on X.

The Strait of Hormuz, which facilitated about one-fifth of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas before the US-Israel war on Iran began in late February, has become a major sticking point in Washington and Tehran’s talks aimed at turning their fragile ceasefire into a lasting peace.

While Iran agreed to make its “best efforts” to arrange the safe passage of ships in the strait in the memorandum of understanding it signed with the US on June 17, Tehran has repeatedly threatened to attack ships that do not use its preferred route close to the Iranian shoreline.

At least 49 attacks on commercial vessels have been recorded in the strait since the start of the war on February 28, according to MarineTraffic.

Most of those incidents, including drone attacks on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship and Panama-flagged merchant vessel on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, have been blamed on Tehran.

While transits through the waterway have risen since US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed their MoU on June 17, they remain far below the roughly 130 daily crossings that took place before the conflict.

At least 45 vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, up from 34 on Tuesday, according to MarineTraffic data.

After dropping to pre-war levels on Thursday on reports of productive talks in Doha, oil prices largely held steady as markets opened in Asia on Friday.

Brent futures for August delivery stood at $72.07 per barrel as of 02:30 GMT, after dropping below $71 for the first time since the war the previous day.

EasyJet has announced 13 new routes, including new city breaks for UK tourists

EasyJet has today revealed 13 brand-new UK routes set to launch this winter. Among them are flights and package holidays to a never-before-served destination in Germany.

This festive season, EasyJet will launch flights and packages to Nuremberg. Services will be departing from Manchester from 2 November on Mondays and Fridays, London Gatwick from 19 November on Thursdays and Sundays and London Luton from 23 November on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Nuremberg is home to one of Europe’s oldest and most celebrated Christmas markets. The iconic Christkindlesmarkt, which dates back to the 16th century, draws visitors from across the globe to soak up the festive atmosphere of one of Germany’s most beloved seasonal destinations.

EasyJet will also be expanding its offering from its London airports, with fresh routes launching to Morocco, France and Egypt. Flights from London Luton to Rabat get under way on 5 November, followed by London Southend to Lyon from 3 December, running on Thursdays and Sundays.

Completing the new additions, flights from London Southend to Sharm El Sheikh will kick off on 4 January, departing on Mondays and Fridays. The airline is also expanding its connections to Hungary, with fresh flights and package holidays to Budapest taking off from three UK airports.

Services from Bristol and Belfast International will commence on 17 November, operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while flights from Liverpool will get under way on 19 November, running twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays – perfect for a festive weekend getaway.

In Scotland, a brand new service from Edinburgh to Tromsø in Norway will launch on 30 November, operating twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays and providing passengers with the only direct route to the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’. Meanwhile, in time for the festive period, flights from Glasgow to Krakow in Poland will commence on 13 November, with departures twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays.

EasyJet will enhance its Manchester network with a fresh service to Vienna in Austria, launching on 19 November with departures up to twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. Additionally, EasyJet is introducing its first international route from the Isle of Man, with a new weekly service to Geneva starting on 19 December, operating on Saturdays. The route will offer the only direct link between the Isle of Man and Switzerland.

The new routes take the airline’s total number of winter services introduced over the past fortnight to 26. Last week’s announcement featured a new direct service from Manchester to Sphinx Airport, alongside the carrier’s first ever international route from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Geneva. The airline says that package holidays can be booked through EasyJet holidays on all new routes with the exception of Luton to Rabat. All packages include flights and hotel, plus 23kg luggage and transfers on beach destinations such as Sharm El Sheikh, they say.

Holidaymakers can reserve their winter getaway with a deposit of £60 per person and until 1 July 2026, can save money on new bookings using the code FOOTBALL26.

Kevin Doyle, EasyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be announcing a further 13 new routes this winter, bringing the number of new routes on sale over the past two weeks to a total of 26. A real statement of our commitment to giving customers across the UK more choice from their local airport.. From winter sun escapes to magical Christmas market breaks, there’s never been a better time to book a flight or package holiday with EasyJet. We look forward to welcoming even more customers on board for their winter holidays.”

EasyJet and EasyJet Holidays say they have introduced their Book with Confidence Promise to reassure customers on their travel plans. The airline says that the pledge guarantees that flight and package prices will not increase in price once booked and confirms that EasyJet intends to operate a full schedule across its network, despite competitors cutting routes, as EasyJet prepares to fly over 50 million passengers this summer.

Full list of new EasyJet routes and dates

• London Gatwick to Nuremberg – 19 November
• London Luton to Nuremberg – 23 November
• London Luton to Rabat – 5 November
• London Southend to Lyon – 3 December
• London Southend to Sharm El Sheikh – 4 January
• Bristol to Budapest – 17 November
• Liverpool to Budapest – 19 November
• Manchester to Nuremberg – 2 November
• Manchester to Vienna – 19 November
• Edinburgh to Tromso – 30 November
• Glasgow to Krakow – 13 November
• Belfast to Budapest – 17 November
• Isle of Man to Geneva – 19 December

EASYJET is launching 13 new routes from the UK including to lesser-known destinations.

The routes include the airline’s first international destination from a tiny UK airport.

EasyJet will launch a route between Newquay Airport in Cornwall and Geneva in Switzerland – which will be its first international route from the airport.

The route will launch on January 16, 2027 and operate once a week on Saturdays until February 27, 2027.

Among the 12 other routes being launched are new routes from London Luton to Kittila in Finland launching on November 24 and Strasbourg in France launching on November 29.

Flights to Kittila will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays whereas flights to Strasbourg will operate four times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

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London Southend will get new flights to Edinburgh, Scotland operating twice a week from October 25 on Thursdays and Sundays from £23.99 per person.

From Birmingham you will be able to fly to Copenhagen in Denmark, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, launching on November 16 and costing from £31.99 per person.

Or if you live near Manchester, you can head to Cairo in Egypt from November 9 – the only direct route from Manchester to the ‘Sphinx’ airport.

The route will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, with flights costing from £131.99 per person.

Liverpool will get two new routes including to Kittilä in Finland and Reykjavik in Iceland.

Flights to Kittila will start on November 25, departing twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays with tickets costing from £30.99 per person.

On the other hand, flights will head to Reykjavik from November 2, taking off on Mondays and Fridays, with flights costing from £43.99 per person.

And Newcastle will get several new destinations including Barcelona in Spain, Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark, Hurghada in Egypt and Rovaniemi in Finland.

Flights to Barcelona will be the first to launch on October 25, operating twice a week on Fridays and Sundays and costing from £28.99 per person.

Hurghada flights will then start on October 27 twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, costing from £121.99 per person.

Copenhagen flights will launch on November 5, followed by Berlin on November 20 and then Rovaniemi on November 25.

SUNEXPRESS has been forced to cancel four flight routes from the UK this summer.

The airline has said the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the Iran War is the reason for the cancellations.

One of the cancelled SunExpress routes is from Leeds Bradford to Antalya.

Currently there are only two more flights set to depart from Leeds Bradford for the city on the Turquoise Coast with the last being on June 7.

Flights between Manchester and Bodrum have also been axed – this has been done immediately as there are no tickets on sale or further routes planned on its website.

The Manchester to Bodrum route was only launched a month ago on May 4.

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Routes from Glasgow to Dalaman and Antalya have also been axed.

The final flight from Glasgow to Dalaman will be on June 9.

There are no more flights between the Scottish airport and Antalya.

A spokesperson from SunExpress told Travel Gossip that the reasons for the routes being axed were “geopolitical developments” and a “highly volatile environment”.

Another was the increasing price of jet fuel and as a result of this it is also reducing the number of flights on other services.

They added: “We regret any inconvenience caused, and will continue to provide UK travellers with a wide range of flights and routes to Türkiye from airports across the UK.”

“At this stage, we’re not in a position to confirm when the suspended services may be reinstated. We will provide further updates as soon as more information is available.”

SunExpress – a budget airline – will continue other routes to Antalya.

These go from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Manchester and Newcastle.

The airline will also continue to fly to Antalya from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Manchester, and Newcastle.

JET2 has added nearly 20 new routes to its 2027 roster, in case you’re an early bird who likes to catch a holiday well ahead of time.

The airline is heading to the Greek islands, a pretty French town, and a Channel Island that ‘looks like the Caribbean‘.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Jet2 is adding shorter and ‘more convenient’ trips to its rota for 2027 in order to meet demand – and Birmingham Airport will have three new routes.

One is to Bergerac, a pretty medieval town in France‘s Dordogne – a region known for having magnificent castles and tasty food.

The town was previously one of the routes cut by Ryanair – but was later brought back for the summer season.

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Jet2 will begin flying to Bergerac from May 22, 2026 with one weekly service.

A Bergerac route is also being introduced from Manchester Airport starting on May 22.

Birmingham Airport, along with Bristol and Manchester is adding routes to Jersey, the Channel Island that during the summertime has been compared to the Caribbean.

When Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited she said: “When my family and I visited, every beach was outstanding, the weather glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.

“Jersey has many epic beaches, often next to free car parks and regularly featuring fabulous cafes serving both generous portions of food and cold beers.”

Jet2 will also begin flights to the Greek destination of Kavala which is nicknamed the ‘Blue City’.

It earned its name from its turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea – and for holidaymakers it has long stretches of beach and plenty of clubs and bars.

Brits will also be able to fly to Kavala from Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester Airport.

Bournemouth Airport is adding a one-weekly service to Spain’s Reus from May 2, 2027.

Found in Catalonia, the city has little alleyways filled with cafes and small boutiques.

But, if you’re looking for beaches, Reus is a 20-minute drive and train journey to the beach city of Tarragona.

Tarragona considered a quiet alternative to Barcelona as it’s mostly visited by locals who want to escape the busy city centre.

The airline will start new routes to Paris too from East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester Airport.

In most cases these services will take under an hour and a half offering a speedy gateway to the city full of landmarks, foodie spots, galleries and art museums.

If you want to avoid the tourist heavy landmarks, check out what Travel Reporter Alice Penwill did during a daytrip to the city from markets to Seine River walks.

Or take advice from Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire to have lunch at Brasserie Lipp and spend time at 18th arrondissement – a less-touristy area.

Locals to Edinburgh Airport will be able to jet off to not one but two Greek Islands next summer.

The airline will begin one-weekly services to Chania on the beautiful island of Crete.

Crete is Greece’s biggest island offering ancient culture, tasty cuisine and incredible swimming spots in the Mediterranean Sea.

Chania itself is a Venetian port with lots of tavernas – the area is a hub of activity, with food, drink and shopping all overlooking the blue sea.

The second location is Skiathos, an island in the northwest Aegean Sea and part of the Sporades archipelago.

One Sun Writer who visited stayed at the Skiathos Palace Hotel, spending days on Koukounaries Beach which is renowned for watersports and diving.

One-weekly flights from Edinburgh Airport to Croatia’s city of Pula will begin on May 2.

The city is said to have the “perfect summer temperatures”, according to a group of travel experts – with highs of 27C in July and August.

Pula has its very own Colosseum, and it’s the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved.

It’s even said to be more intact than its famous counterpart in Rome.

Of course, the seaside city has incredible beaches too like Galebove stijene and Jamica Beach.

From London Gatwick, the airline will fly to Mytilene (Lesvos) – a city found on the third largest Greek island.

In the city, visitors can explore Mytilene Castle, take a stroll around Ermou Street Market and enjoy seafood at the tavernas along the waterfront.

At London Stansted, the airline will start flying to Almeria once a week from May 1, 2027.

The city in southeast Spain has an abundance of tapas bars – thanks to its tapeo culture, if you order a drink then you usually get a free tapa dish too.

The city is very close to the Tabernas Desert which has been used as a filming location for famous Westerns, including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars, and For a Few Dollars More, starring Clint Eastwood.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are delighted to be significantly expanding our Jersey programme for Summer 2027, with a great choice of flights now departing from six UK airports as a result.

“Thanks to the addition of the new routes and the existing programme, we are offering fantastic choice to Jersey.”

Airlines have been forced to cancel and amend flight schedules due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and soaring jet fuel prices, with Qatar Airways also hit with suspended routes

Qatar Airways has become the latest airline to cancel flights this May.

Since the Middle East conflict erupted in late February, airlines have been forced to axe routes and amend flight schedules due to restricted airspace across the Gulf region. The situation was heightened by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas passes, triggering a worldwide shortage and skyrocketing jet fuel prices.

With growing concerns over the long-term supply of jet fuel, a whopping 18 airlines have announced cancellations, and 13,000 flights worldwide have been taken from May schedules, according to figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Now, Qatar Airways is the latest airline to have routes axed, with flights to 22 cities suspended during May and beyond.

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Qatar Airways has suspended flights from its Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to four European countries, Malta, Sarajevo, Sofia, and Venice, according to Simple Flying. As airlines prioritise their routes amid the jet fuel crisis, it is thought Qatar Airways will resume routes to Malta, Sofia and Venice in September.

Additionally, the Doha-based airline is not currently offering flights from its hub to Canberra, Cebu, Djibouti, Kano, Kigali, Mogadishu, Nagpur, or Zanzibar. Around half of these routes are expected to return in September, after one of the busiest travel periods, the summer holidays.

As a result of the Middle East conflict, drone and missile strikes caused major airspace closures, which severely impacted the Doha-based airline. Further routes suspended by Qatar Airways include flights to Aleppo, Gassim, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, Mashhad, Neom Bay, Shiraz, Tabuk, Taif, Tehran, and Yanbu. In addition to three cities in Iran, where the airspace remains closed.

Some of the suspended routes, excluding Aleppo and Iran, are expected to resume in September. In total, 22 routes have been suspended.

However, it’s not all bad news in the world of aviation this week. Qatar Airways announced that it is resuming some of its routes and that its Airbus A380s will return next month. The plane has been grounded. In a statement released on 13 May, the airline said: “Qatar Airways continues to restore its network across the Middle East, with the resumption of double-daily passenger flights to Abu Dhabi (AUH), the capital of the United Arab Emirates.”

This comes after the airline announced plans to expand its network further in time for the summer holidays. “Qatar Airways is expanding its international flight network, with services to over 150 destinations from 16 June 2026, connecting more passengers to more of the world this summer,” the statement read.

Airlines with cancelledflights in May

• Air Asia X
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air Transat
• Air New Zealand
• Asiana Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Delta
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Norse Atlantic
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• SAS
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• Vietjet
• Vietnam Airlines

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

TWO holiday destinations are losing their Virgin flights until next year.

The major airline has confirmed that flights to both Dubai and Seattle will no longer go ahead this year.

Flights to Dubai are off the cards for most airlines right now, with the Iran war putting the winter sun destination on the no-travel list.

Virgin Atlantic had already suspended flights from London Heathrow to Dubai, but has now confirmed they would not go ahead until winter 2027.

It comes as its London Heathrow flights to Riyadh were cancelled entirely after just a year.

The airline is also suspending flights to Seattle until March 27, 2027.

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A Virgin spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our seasonal service to Dubai for the winter 2026 season, while services to Seattle will also be temporarily suspended for the winter 2026 season only, before resuming in March 2027.

“Customers can continue to travel to Seattle with our partner Delta Air Lines who will offer daily services from London Heathrow.”

“We’d like to apologise to any affected customers and will be contacting them with their options which include rebooking or a refund.”

The airline is instead adding more flights to two of its destination in Africa.

From October 25, there will be 11 weekly flights to Cape Town, as well as 10 a week to Johannesburg.

They added: “The updated flight schedule enhances convenience for travellers, with earlier morning arrivals into South Africa allowing passengers to maximise their time on the ground, and later evening departures offering a more seamless overnight journey to London.”

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has opened six overland transit routes for goods destined for Iran, formalising a road corridor through its territory as thousands of containers remain stranded at Karachi port because of the United States blockade of Iranian ports and ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of Commerce issued the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026 on April 25, bringing it into immediate effect. The order allows goods originating from third countries to be transported through Pakistan and delivered to Iran by road.

The announcement coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir, the latest in a series of diplomatic engagements as Pakistan seeks to mediate an end to the two-month war between Washington and Tehran.

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan described the initiative as “a significant step toward promoting regional trade and enhancing Pakistan’s role as a key trade corridor”.

Iran has not publicly commented on the move, and Al Jazeera’s query to the Iranian embassy in Islamabad went unanswered.

The notification does not extend to Indian-origin goods. A separate Commerce Ministry order issued in May 2025, following the India-Pakistan aerial war that month, bans the transit of goods from India through Pakistan by any mode and remains in force.

Routes and regulations

The six designated routes link Pakistan’s main ports, Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar, with two Iranian border crossings, Gabd and Taftan, passing through Balochistan via Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Quetta and Dalbandin.

The shortest route, the Gwadar-Gabd corridor, reduces travel time to the Iranian border to between two and three hours, compared with the 16 to 18 hours it takes from Karachi – Pakistan’s biggest port – to the Iranian border. The Gwadar-Gabd route could cut transport costs by 45 to 55 percent compared with costs from Karachi port, according to officials.

But for Iran, firms sending their goods to the country, and transporters, all routes into Iranian territory today are viable options, with the principal maritime passage they have traditionally used – the Strait of Hormuz – blockaded by the US Navy.

Corridor shaped by conflict

The current US-Iran war began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran.

In the weeks that followed, Iran restricted commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes during peacetime, disrupting one of the most critical arteries of global trade.

Pakistan brokered a ceasefire on April 8 and hosted the first round of direct US-Iran talks on April 11, in Islamabad. The negotiations lasted nearly a day but ended without a deal. Two days later, Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, throttling Tehran’s maritime access.

A second round of talks has since stalled. US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit to Islamabad by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner last weekend.

Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with Washington while the blockade remains in place, though Araghchi told Pakistani officials that Tehran would continue engaging with Islamabad’s mediation efforts “until a result is achieved”.

The transit order appears to be a direct economic response to that impasse.

More than 3,000 containers destined for Iran have been stuck at Karachi port for several days, with vessels unable to collect the cargo. War-risk insurance premiums have surged from about 0.12 percent of a vessel’s value before the conflict to roughly 5 percent, making shipping to the region too expensive for many operators.

Shifting regional dynamics

The corridor also signals a shift away from Afghanistan, whose relations with Pakistan have deteriorated sharply.

The two sides engaged in clashes in October 2025 and again in February and March this year, with skirmishes continuing along the northwestern and southwestern borders.

The Torkham and Chaman crossings have ceased to function as reliable commercial routes since tensions escalated, limiting Pakistan’s overland access to Central Asian markets.

“This is a paradigmatic shift. Pakistan’s relations with the Afghan Taliban, the de facto rulers in Kabul, have no reset switch,” Iftikhar Firdous, cofounder of The Khorasan Diary, told Al Jazeera.

“Kabul has been diversifying away from Pakistan towards Iran and Central Asia, but this move flips the equation. Pakistan can now bypass Afghanistan entirely for westbound trade. The impact on Kabul’s transit relevance and revenue is strategic, not immediate – but it is real.”

Firdous said the implications extend beyond bilateral ties.

“This corridor also reduces Pakistan’s reliance on longer maritime routes through the Gulf. Geopolitics, security, and infrastructure will ultimately determine which corridors dominate, but it places Pakistan as the main overland gateway for China-backed trade routes into West Asia and beyond,” he said.

Minhas Majeed Marwat, a Peshawar-based academic and geopolitical analyst, urged caution. “A cornered Afghanistan is a destabilised Afghanistan, and Pakistan knows better than most what that costs,” she wrote on X on April 27.

“The opportunity here is real. So is the risk. Security on the northwestern and southwestern borders remains the variable that could unravel everything. Pakistan is positioned well. It is not yet positioned safely. Those are different things.”

EASYJET is adding a host of new routes from six airports to beautiful cities and sun-filled islands.

Holiday goers can travel via nine new stops from autumn time from Luton, Belfast, Birmingham, Southampton and Easyjet’s new base in Newcastle.

Package holidays will be introduced on the services include:

• Birmingham to Agadir
• Belfast International to Rome
• Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh
• Luton to Ljubljana
• Southend to Budapest
• Newcastle to Fuerteventura
• Newcastle to Reykjavik
• Newcastle to Krakow
• Southampton to Paris.

Flights going from Newcastle to Fuerteventura will start on October 25, and operate twice a week – on Thursdays and Sundays.

On the same day, new routes from Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle start twice a week.

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The following day, services to Krakow will begin with departures on Mondays and Fridays every week.

On October 25 and 26, travellers can go from Belfast International Airport to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesdays and Sundays, as well as to Rome on Mondays and Fridays.

Anyone wanting to visit Reykjavik, Iceland, can travel from Newcastle from October 27 twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Easyjet’s Luton-Ljubljana flights start on October 26 three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The same day, the Southend-Budapest route also starts twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.

In an exciting update for Birmingham, the route to coastal city Agadir, in Morocco, will start on October 27. They will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The new flights, which include fares of £23.99, have significantly expanded the airline’s network from the north of England, and enabled more direct services to popular leisure and city destinations.

The airline’s UK country manager, Kevin Doyle, said: “Whether they’re looking for winter sun, or a weekend away in some of Europe’s most iconic capitals, this new batch of routes further expands the range of exciting destinations available for our customers to choose from at affordable prices.”

EasyJet, has launched nine new routes to some major holiday hotspots that will take off this year from airports across the UK – and some fares are incredible affordable

EasyJet has launched nine new routes from airports across the UK, and fares start from as little as £24.

In an exciting update for holidaymakers, easyJet is introducing new flights to the Canary Islands, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia. The new routes will launch in winter this year, and will see easyJet be the only airline to offer some of these holiday hotspots from three UK airports.

The new routes and package holidays released by easyJet are:

• Birmingham to Agadir
• Belfast International to Rome and Sharm El Sheikh
• London Luton Airport to Ljubljana
• London Southend Airport to Budapest
• Newcastle to Fuerteventura, Reykjavik, and Krakow
• Southampton to Paris

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In an exciting update for Birmingham, the route to Agadir, the coastal resort city in Morocco, will start on 27 October, 2026. They will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and are ideal for those looking for a sun-soaked getaway in one of their sprawling resorts dotted along the sand beaches with crystal clear turquoise waters.

The flights from Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh and Rome will launch on 25 and 26 October, respectively. The Sharm El Sheikh service will fly twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays, while the Rome service will depart twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.

The route from London Luton to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, will start on 26 October and depart three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Ljubljana offers a largely pedestrianised area in Slovenia’s largest city, with a scenic river, the iconic Dragon Bridge, vibrant café culture and striking architecture.

Meanwhile, flights from London Southend to Budapest will also begin on 26 October, departing twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. This is a welcome connection for Essex and London residents who want to easily explore the ‘city of spas’ situated on the stunning Danube riverfront, alongside its famed ruin bars.

Expanding its Newcastle links even further, the flights to Fuerteventura, Reykjavik, and Krakow will start their departures on 25, 26, and 27 October, respectively. The route to Fuerteventura will depart twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, the Krakow route will depart twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, and the Reykjavik flights will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Elsewhere, the new route from Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle will start on 25 October, and will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. This is ideal for those looking for a romantic weekend escape in the city of love, or to simply explore its iconic landmarks.

Following the launch of its new mega routes, offering fares from £23.99, easyJet will be the only airline operating from Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh, and the only airline offering a regular route from Belfast International to Rome. Additionally, the budget-friendly airline will be the only air service connecting London Southend to Budapest and London Luton to Ljubljana.

Holiday packages are available with easyJet to all of these new destinations, including flights and hotels, plus 23kg luggage and transfers. The airline noted that all holidays can be booked with a deposit of just £60 per person, making it even more convenient for Brits to book their winter escape.

Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We are excited to be launching nine new routes and packages from across the UK for this winter, providing customers with even more choice and connectivity. Whether they’re looking for winter sun, or a weekend away in some of Europe’s most iconic capitals, this new batch of routes further expands the range of exciting destinations available for our customers to choose from at affordable prices.”

For more information or to book your next getaway, visit the easyJet website.

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More than four in every 10 deaths and disappearances occurred on sea routes to Europe, the UN agency says.

Nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes last year, with sea routes to Europe the most deadly, according to the United Nations.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration said that many of the victims were lost in “invisible shipwrecks,” as it released new figures in a report on Tuesday.

“These figures bear witness to our collective failure to prevent these tragedies,” Maria Moita, who directs the UN agency’s humanitarian and response department, told a news conference.

The figure of 7,904 people that the UN counted as died or missing in 2025 constituted a fall from the all-time high of 9,197 in 2024, the IOM said in its report. However, it added that the drop was partly due to 1,500 suspected cases that went unverified due to aid cuts.

Total deaths since 2014 exceed 82,000, with about 340,000 family members estimated to have been directly affected.

Shifting routes

More than four in every 10 deaths and disappearances occurred on sea routes to Europe, the IOM reports.

“In Europe, overall arrivals declined, but the profile of movements changed, with Bangladeshi nationals becoming the largest group arriving while Syrian arrivals fell following political and policy shifts,” the report reads.

Many cases were so-called “invisible shipwrecks” where entire boats are lost at sea and never found.

The West African route northwards accounted for 1,200 deaths, while Asia reported a record number of deaths, including hundreds of Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar or misery in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.

The organisation stressed that the data showed migration routes “are shifting rather than easing, with risks remaining high along increasingly dangerous journeys”.

“Routes are shifting in response to conflict, climate pressures and policy changes, but the risks are still very real,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope.

“Behind these numbers are people taking dangerous journeys and families left waiting for news that may never come,” she added.

“Data is critical to understanding these routes and designing interventions that can reduce risks, save lives and promote safer migration pathways.”