EasyJet announces 27 new international lines from France (4 are to UK)

EasyJet is to boost its flights to French airports with 27 new flights - including four to the UK - announced in its 2024-2025 winter programme.

The new routes will include flights to France from London Gatwick, Newcastle and Leeds and represent a 5% increase in easyJet traffic to France.

The news allays fears that the carrier may be starting a strategic withdrawal from the country after the surprise announcement of its withdrawal from Toulouse airport, which is scheduled for spring 2025.

EasyJet’s 27 winter routes from France

• Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Budapest (Hungary), Newcastle, Leeds, Oslo (Norway), Hurghada (Egypt) and Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), Fuerteventura (Canary islands, Spain), Kittilä (Finland) and Tromsø (Norway)

• Bordeaux to Rome-Fiumicino (Italy), Rabat (Morocco), Zurich (Switzerland) and Rovaniemi (Finland) 

• Lyon to Hurghada, Berlin Brandenburg, Newcastle and Rovaniemi.

• Nantes to Prague.

• Nice to Agadir, Prague, Strasbourg, Madrid, Lanzarote (Canary islands, Spain), and Rovaniemi.

• Strasbourg to Barcelona (Spain), London Gatwick, Naples (Italy) and Nice.

The winter programme’s launch will be staggered over several months, starting with the flights to Leeds and Newcastle from Paris-Charles de Gaulle on October 27 and 28.

Flights to London Gatwick from Strasbourg will start on November 11, followed by the link between Lyon and Newcastle on January 4, 2025, which easyJet’s UK manager, Ali Gayward, said would give “more choice for customers in the North East to plan a ski holiday”.

Tickets for the new routes cost from €35.

The programme is expected to represent a 6% increase in its passenger numbers at Bordeaux and Lyon airports, and a 5% increase for Nice.

Bordeaux airport, which is currently undergoing a €100m revamp, recently lost 25% of its passenger traffic after the withdrawal of Ryanair in October due to the airport increasing its fees for airlines.