Manchester Airport announces launch of 7 new destinations coming in 2026 - see full list
Manchester Airport has more than 200 destinations served by 50 airlines – but that network is set to widen again this year, with seven new services already confirmed from the likes of easyJet, Jet2.com and Ryanair – four of which are brand-new for the airport. More are expected to follow over the course of the year.
Here we run the rule over the destinations already announced and recap the big names added to the departure boards in 2025.
New for 2026
Montpellier - easyJet’s service to France’s Mediterranean coast launches on Monday 30 March. Montpellier is one of the biggest cities in southern France and offers an array of cultural sights, from museums and art galleries to archaeological sites like the ancient city of Lattara – but most passengers flying into the city’s airport are headed for nearby coastal resorts like Palavas-les-Flots, Sete and Carnon. The region’s beaches are a popular spot for water sports and its seafood is also renowned.
Preveza - easyJet’s other confirmed new service is to Preveza in Greece. It begins on Wednesday 24 June and easyJet will join Jet2.com and TUI in flying here, offering even greater choice to passengers. Preveza is on the mainland but faces the island of Lefkada, which has come to rival Corfu as one of the most popular tourist destinations on Greece’s Ionian Sea coast. Expect similar vibes to Corfu with fabulous beaches, colourful Venetian architecture and delicious Greek food.
La Palma - Jet2.com begins flying to the Canary Island of La Palma on Friday 3 April, joining TUI in linking it to Manchester. It’s quieter than neighbouring islands like Tenerife and Fuerteventura but offers many of the same experiences, from charming port towns to black sand beaches and a rugged volcanic landscape great for nature-lovers.
Palermo - On Friday 1 May, Jet2.com launches the first direct service from Manchester to Palermo, the largest city on the island of Sicily. It’s a lively destination with bustling markets and tasty street food, and plenty of history too – its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Head out of Palermo in a westerly direction and you’ll find some of the island’s best beaches, including the stunning San Vito Lo Capo.
Samos - Jet2.com’s flights to Samos start on Tuesday 5 May, and it will be the only airline to offer a direct link from Manchester to this picturesque Greek island in the eastern Aegean, emerging as a popular alternative to its much busier neighbours Mykonos and Santorini. Foodies will be truly at home here – it’s famous for high-quality honey, cheese, olive oil and sweet Muscat wine. Some of its beaches, including Tsamadou and Potami, have become Instagram-famous.
Castellon - Another brand-new route for Manchester Airport, Ryanair’s flights to Castellon commence on Monday 1 June. The city is the gateway to the Costa del Azahar, or ‘Coast of the Orange Trees’, a stretch of more than 80 miles of golden sands that has long been popular with Spanish holidaymakers but is something of a hidden gem for international visitors. Be sure to tuck into some Paella while you’re here – this is the part of Spain where the dish originated.
Bodrum - Rounding off the list, SunExpress begins flights to Bodrum on Monday 4 May, joining easyJet and Jet2.com in offering a direct service from Manchester. Famous for Bodrum Castle and the ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the city sits at the heart of Turkey’s Aegean coastline and is surrounded by a string of resorts offering all-inclusive stays.
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re proud to connect the North with more destinations than any of our competitors, and to also offer more frequent flights to well-established holiday favourites, giving passengers flexibility and choice when booking their next trip. Our route network is unrivalled, with more than 200 destinations across the planet – but we’re not content to stop there.
“We have a list here of what we refer to as our biggest unserved destinations – that’s the destinations that we don’t have direct flights to but have the greatest demand, demonstrated by people from the region travelling to them either on connecting flights or from other airports.
“Those destinations are always our priority. At the start of last year, the biggest names on that list were Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai and Islamabad – and we’ve now launched flights to all of those. This year we’ll carry on through the list.
“I’m definitely looking to get to 40 million passengers per year over the next five years and there are several specific routes, like Riyadh and Tokyo that I’d like to add to our departure board over that period too. Equally, North America, South America and Africa are all places where we could expand our footprint.”