Published on
January 26, 2026
easyJet is expanding its UK regional network for summer 2026, adding three new routes from Newcastle and Manchester that connect travellers directly to key destinations across Italy and Portugal. The new services are designed to support both leisure and business travel, offering convenient schedules and direct access to some of southern Europe’s most visited cities.
From its newly launched base in Newcastle, easyJet will introduce direct flights to Rome and Lisbon, while Manchester Airport will gain a new connection to Bari, located on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Together, the routes strengthen regional connectivity between the UK and Europe during the peak summer travel season.
Expanding UK Regional Connectivity
The addition of these routes reflects easyJet’s continued focus on regional UK airports, particularly as demand grows for direct European links outside London. Newcastle and Manchester serve large catchment areas across northern England and southern Scotland, making them key gateways for outbound travel.
The airline’s Newcastle base, launched recently, plays a central role in this expansion. By adding Rome and Lisbon, easyJet is providing travellers in the North East with nonstop access to two major European capitals that previously required connecting flights or longer travel times.
Manchester’s new service to Bari adds another Italian destination to the airport’s summer schedule, opening up a region known for coastal towns, historic centres, and access to southern Italy’s wider Apulia region.
Route Launch Dates and Schedules
All three routes will operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, a schedule that supports long-weekend breaks while also offering flexibility for short business trips.
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- Newcastle to Rome Fiumicino
Launch date: 30 March 2026
Operating days: Mondays and Fridays
Lead-in fare: £33.99 one way - Newcastle to Lisbon
Launch date: 22 June 2026
Operating days: Mondays and Fridays
Lead-in fare: £43.99 one way - Manchester to Bari
Launch date: 3 July 2026
Operating days: Mondays and Fridays
Lead-in fare: £38.99 one way
The Monday–Friday frequency is structured to appeal to travellers planning extended weekends, midweek business travel, or short leisure stays that fit neatly around work schedules.
Tourism Access to Major European Destinations
Each destination offers distinct tourism appeal. Rome provides access to historical landmarks, cultural attractions, and international events, making it a consistent draw for city-break travellers. Lisbon offers a mix of heritage neighbourhoods, coastal access, and growing business and technology sectors, while Bari serves as a gateway to southern Italy, with connections to Apulia’s beaches, towns, and culinary tourism routes.
Direct flights reduce travel time and simplify planning, particularly for travellers departing from northern England who previously relied on indirect services through other hubs.
Supporting Business and Leisure Travel
While leisure travel remains a core focus for summer routes, the scheduling and destinations also support business travel. Rome and Lisbon are established centres for government, corporate, and conference activity, and the twice-weekly pattern allows for efficient outbound and return journeys within the same week.
Bari, while more leisure-oriented, also serves regional business travel within southern Italy and offers access to ports and commercial centres along the Adriatic coast.
The ability to travel out on a Monday and return on a Friday gives travellers flexibility to combine meetings with personal time, a travel pattern increasingly common across European routes.
Added Value Through EasyJet Holidays
The new routes will also be available through EasyJet Holidays, which packages flights with hotels, 23kg checked luggage, and airport transfers. These packages are aimed at travellers seeking a single booking for both transport and accommodation, particularly those extending business trips into weekends or planning short leisure breaks.
For destinations like Rome and Lisbon, where accommodation choice and location are central to trip planning, bundled packages provide additional convenience and predictability.
Strengthening Summer 2026 Travel Options
The introduction of these services adds capacity at a time when demand for European travel continues to concentrate around summer months. By offering competitive lead-in fares and direct regional departures, easyJet is expanding choice for travellers who prefer to avoid transfers or longer surface journeys to larger hubs.
The routes also contribute to broader tourism flows between the UK, Italy, and Portugal, supporting inbound and outbound travel and reinforcing regional airport roles within the European aviation network.
Looking Ahead
With Rome, Lisbon, and Bari added to its summer 2026 schedule, easyJet continues to develop point-to-point connectivity that aligns with evolving travel patterns. For passengers departing from Newcastle and Manchester, the new routes offer direct access to major European destinations with schedules suited to both leisure exploration and short-stay business travel.
As summer 2026 approaches, these new services are set to become part of the seasonal travel landscape, giving UK regional travellers more ways to reach southern Europe efficiently and directly.
