New Direct Flights from Gatwick for 2026

Living in Brighton, we usually default to Gatwick for any trip away. This year, the airport is rolling out its biggest expansion since 2019, with 12 new routes and eight new airlines joining the schedule for the 2026 summer season. The most significant change is Jet2 setting up a permanent base here starting in late March. They are bringing in six aircraft to run 29 different routes across the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. This includes frequent flights to places like Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, and Tenerife South. For those of us looking for work locally, this move is also creating about 300 jobs in flight crew, engineering, and ground handling.

If you have been looking for a different corner of Italy, there are a couple of new options that stand out. Salerno is now on the map with British Airways (BA Euroflyer) starting flights on May 22. It is a useful alternative to Naples if you want to reach the Amalfi Coast or the ruins of Pompeii without the usual transit hassle. Further up the coast, Rimini is being added by easyJet from April 16. It is known for having over 15km of sandy beaches and a pretty active nightlife scene. For families, Skiathos remains a solid choice, especially with new flights starting in May 2026. It has around 60 beaches and is often cited as a toddler-friendly destination because of the calm waters and golden sand. Some people in Brighton are already planning trips for early May to take advantage of these new connections.

Northern Europe and city breaks are getting more coverage too. Norwegian is launching a year-round service to Billund in Denmark starting June 30. It is the home of Legoland and the LEGO House, making it a straightforward option for a family trip. Air France is returning to Gatwick after a long break, running twice-daily flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle from March 29. This opens up more connections to their global network. In Germany, Eurowings is starting routes to Cologne and Stuttgart, while Condor will fly three times a day to Frankfurt. These are handy for quick weekend trips or business travel.

For those looking to go a bit further, Air Arabia is starting a twice-daily direct service to Sharjah in the UAE from March 29. It is currently the only direct link between the UK and that specific destination, using Airbus A321LR aircraft. Beijing Capital Airlines is also planning a summer service to Qingdao in China, and Animawings will connect Gatwick to Bucharest six times a week starting in March. Other additions to keep an eye on include Aalborg with Norwegian and Tetouan in Morocco with Royal Air Maroc. With over 230 destinations now available directly from our local airport, there are plenty of new spots to consider for a 2026 getaway.