EasyJet have made holiday plans easier for travellers in the north east, as the low-cost airline has launched 11 new flights from Newcastle Airport – and they’re arriving sooner than planned.
Now available to book from March 22, 2026, instead of the original summer launch, the budget carrier has expanded its offering from Newcastle, which was recently named one of the best airports in Europe.
Alongside the current eight routes already on offer, new destinations ready and waiting to be booked for Easter and beyond include:
- Malta
- Rhodes, Greece
- Corfu, Greece
- Faro, Portugal
- Reus, Spain
- Tunisia
- Sharm el Sheik, Egypt
- Dalaman, Turkey
- Antalya, Turkey
- Prague, Czechia
- Nice, France
When the new routes were originally announced in June 2025, the low-cost airline said flights would be available from summer – while it’s not clear why Easyjet has released tickets early (Metro has contacted easyJet for comment) it’s good news for those who like to get ahead with their Easter and summer plans.
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Flights to the new routes are now available to book at easyJet.com and via the mobile app – some of which are cheaper than UK train fares.
For example, on April 28, a one-way flight to Nice on April 14 is just £33. Alternatively, flying to Antalya in Turkey on March 22 is £87.
There are plenty of decent package holidays on offer to the new destinations, too. If you’re looking for city break vibes, a four-night bed and breakfast stay at the 4* Grand Majestic Plaza in Prague on August 9 will cost £362.
Looking for a beach getaway? From May 11, a week’s holiday at the 4* Solana Hotel and Spa will set you back £582 per person on a room-only basis. Temperatures reach a comfortable 24°C during this month.
Kevin Doyle, UK country manager at easyJet, said: ‘We are delighted to be opening our Newcastle base early, demonstrating our continued confidence in the region with customers choosing us for our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares.
‘With flights on new routes launching early, we’re offering our customers in the North East, Southern Scotland, North Yorkshire and Cumbria more choice when booking their Easter holidays next year and we can’t wait to welcome them onboard.’
Leon McQuaid, director of aviation development at Newcastle Airport, also commented on the launches. He said: ‘It’s fantastic that easyJet will open its base at Newcastle Airport ahead of schedule, with flights to 11 new destinations taking off earlier than planned, including a brand-new direct service to Nice.
‘This also builds on the popular destinations the airline already serves, including Alicante, Amsterdam, Geneva, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Bristol and Belfast.’
Visit the ‘Santorini of Tunisia’
If easyJet’s new offerings have inspired you to book a trip, why not follow in the footsteps of Metro’s Gergana Krasteva and explore Tunisia – one of the airline’s new destinations from Newcastle.
Gergana described Sidi Bou Said – the location she visited in the North African country – as the ‘Santorini of Tunisia,’ and rated it for its cool coffee shops, local art and flights from £76.
Perched high above the Mediterranean, this quaint seaside town is just 30 minutes from central Tunis. The whitewashed buildings that shimmer in the 25°C sun, plus the bright blue shutters that mimic the colours of the sea, are the characteristics that led to the coining of the nickname.
From exploring the cobbled streets to gorging on Assida Zgougou, a Tunisian custard-type dessert, Gergana said the stroll through Sidi Bou Said reveals something charming at every turn.
Alternative Europe
Here at Metro, we love bringing our readers unusual and hidden-gem alternatives to more popular European city breaks.
For those who love Paris, why not try Tromsø, often dubbed ‘Paris of the North’. Don’t be fooled by its extreme location — the largest city in northern Norway is surprisingly refined, with plenty to see beyond the Northern Lights.
If you enjoy holidaying in Portugal, but want to venture beyond Lisbon and Porto, head to Bragga, the lesser-visited ‘Rome of Portugal’, which was once a mainstay of the Roman empire. From ornate architecture to ancient buildings and a thriving culinary scene, the city has everything that Rome does, without the crowds.
And if it’s a historical break you’re after, Europe’s oldest city is in Bulgaria, and dates back to a staggering 6,000 BC.
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