EasyJet is extending its reach across southern Europe with a trio of new routes from the United Kingdom to Rome, Lisbon and Bari, putting three of the region’s most sought after city and seaside destinations within easier weekend reach for travelers in northern England.

With one way headline fares starting from £33.99 and all three links operating twice weekly from summer 2026, the move underscores the low cost carrier’s ambition to cement itself as a leading player in the UK short haul leisure market.

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The latest additions to easyJet’s network will see new services from Newcastle to Rome Fiumicino and Lisbon, alongside a fresh connection between Manchester and the Adriatic port city of Bari. The three routes are scheduled to start between late March and early July 2026, aligning with school holidays and the peak summer season to capture strong leisure demand.

From its new base at Newcastle International Airport, easyJet will begin flying to Rome on 30 March 2026, followed by flights to Lisbon from 22 June 2026. Both will operate on Mondays and Fridays, giving customers the option of long weekend breaks or week long stays without complicated itineraries. The schedule has been deliberately structured around leisure travelers seeking short escapes as well as flexible business travelers wanting efficient out and back trips.

In parallel, Manchester Airport will gain a direct route to Bari, the capital of Italy’s Puglia region on the Adriatic coast. Launching on 3 July 2026, the Manchester Bari services will also run on Mondays and Fridays, bringing a lesser known Italian destination onto the radar for northern England holidaymakers who might previously have connected via other European hubs or flown into alternative Italian airports.

Lead in fares from £33.99 aimed at budget conscious travelers

EasyJet is marketing the new routes with one way fares that start below £50, pitched to appeal strongly to budget conscious city breakers and families. Newcastle Rome lead in fares begin at £33.99, while Newcastle Lisbon starts from £43.99 and Manchester Bari from £38.99, subject to availability. As with similar promotions, the lowest prices will be limited in number on each flight but are designed to spur early bookings and signal the airline’s value driven positioning.

The airline’s wider summer 2026 programme already includes millions of seats from UK airports, and the fresh links to Italy and Portugal expand that footprint further. By tying the new services into its broader “Big Seat Release” push for the 2026 season, easyJet is seeking to lock in demand months ahead of departure, encouraging travelers to commit early in return for the most competitive fares.

For consumers, the pricing strategy offers an accessible entry point to some of Europe’s most popular destinations. While extras such as hold luggage, seat selection and onboard catering will add to the total cost, the availability of sub £50 base fares still represents a significant draw for travelers comparing options across airlines or considering rail and coach alternatives for continental trips.

Newcastle base expansion drives northern England growth

The two new Mediterranean routes from Newcastle reflect the strategic importance of the airport within easyJet’s UK network. The airline will open a three aircraft base at Newcastle in March 2026, allowing it to station crews and aircraft locally and support a much broader operation than in previous years. The Rome and Lisbon services are part of a wider wave of routes that will take the carrier’s Newcastle network to more than 20 destinations.

Airport executives have welcomed the additional connectivity, highlighting that Lisbon in particular is a brand new destination for the region and one that has been requested by customers. The new flights join a roll call of recent and upcoming launches from Newcastle to destinations such as Antalya, Dalaman, Faro, Malta, Rhodes and Tenerife, giving passengers across the North East, southern Scotland and North Yorkshire an expanded choice of sun and city options from their local airport.

The base opening is also expected to bring economic benefits to the region. EasyJet’s investment will create around 130 direct jobs for pilots and cabin crew and support many more indirect roles linked to ground handling, airport services and the wider visitor economy. Additional inbound flows from Rome and Lisbon are anticipated to boost tourism into northern England, not just outbound holiday traffic heading to the Mediterranean.

Rome, Lisbon and Bari positioned for city breaks and seaside escapes

The three destinations selected for the latest route launches are a deliberate blend of iconic capitals and rising coastal hotspots. Rome needs little introduction, drawing millions of visitors each year to its ancient landmarks, museums and piazzas. By launching flights from Newcastle in late March, easyJet is targeting spring city break demand when temperatures are milder and crowds in the Italian capital are lighter than in peak summer.

Lisbon, reached non stop from Newcastle from late June, offers a contrasting take on the southern European city break, with its hillside tram routes, riverside promenade and access to nearby Atlantic beaches. Summer departure dates will tap into the city’s busy festival period and make it easier for travelers from northern England to plan early or late weekend escapes around work commitments.

Bari, meanwhile, gives Manchester based passengers a gateway into Puglia and the wider Adriatic coast. While less famous than Rome or Venice, Bari has grown steadily in popularity thanks to its historic old town, seafront promenades and proximity to coastal resorts and hilltop villages such as Polignano a Mare and Alberobello. The route supports both traditional beach holidays and more independent fly drive itineraries across southern Italy.

Holiday packages add simplicity for families and first time visitors

Alongside the flight only services, easyJet’s tour operating arm is rolling out holiday packages to all three destinations, bundling flights with hotel stays under a single booking. For Bari, packages will also include airport transfers and a 23 kilogram luggage allowance, a configuration that may prove particularly attractive to families and less frequent travelers who prefer to avoid separate arrangements for bags and ground transport.

Package holidays to Rome and Lisbon will offer a range of hotel options across different neighborhoods and price points, from central city boutiques suitable for short breaks to larger properties catering for longer stays. Holidaymakers will be able to secure trips with low deposits, a feature that has become a core part of easyJet holidays’ proposition and which allows customers to plan peak season travel while spreading the cost over time.

For the airline, encouraging take up of packages as well as seat only bookings provides an additional revenue stream and strengthens customer loyalty. Travelers booking through the holiday arm tend to spend more overall with the brand and are also more likely to return in subsequent seasons, making the new routes a platform not only for point to point traffic but for broader growth in the company’s packaged travel offering.

Focus on weekend friendly schedules and flexible short stays

A notable feature of the new Rome, Lisbon and Bari services is their consistent Monday and Friday pattern. This timetable is designed to cater to travelers seeking three or four night stays over long weekends without needing to take extensive time off work. Passengers can leave on a Friday for a three night break returning Monday, or fly Monday and return Friday to enjoy a longer stay.

For business travelers and those working remotely, the twice weekly pattern can also support flexible working arrangements and blended business and leisure trips. A traveler could, for example, fly out on Monday morning, work remotely from their destination during the week, then return Friday evening having combined meetings or networking with extended time abroad.

The frequency also reflects the realities of demand on new leisure oriented routes. Starting with two flights per week allows easyJet to test and build the market while optimizing aircraft utilization across its wider network. Should demand for any of the three routes significantly exceed expectations, there remains scope in future seasons to consider additional frequencies or adjustments to the schedule.

Competitive landscape and regional connectivity implications

EasyJet’s move comes at a time of intense competition on UK Europe leisure routes, with low cost rivals and flag carriers alike vying for market share. By choosing cities where demand is strong but direct options from northern England have historically been limited, the airline is carving out space for itself in markets that complement rather than simply duplicate existing services from larger hubs in London and the Midlands.

The new routes also play into a broader trend of airlines placing more emphasis on regional connectivity, reducing the need for travelers to route through congested southern airports. For passengers in the North East or North West, non stop links from Newcastle and Manchester to Rome, Lisbon and Bari should cut overall journey times and remove the expense and inconvenience of domestic positioning flights or lengthy rail connections.

Airports and tourism boards in the receiving cities are likely to view the new services positively, with increased visitor numbers from the UK translating into higher hotel occupancy, restaurant trade and cultural attraction footfall. As the routes mature, there may also be opportunities for collaborative marketing and joint promotions that highlight lesser known experiences in each destination and encourage repeat visits.

Bookings open now for summer 2026 departures

Seats on all three routes are already on sale through easyJet’s usual channels, with passengers able to book flights or combined flight and hotel packages for travel dates that stretch across the main European holiday season. Given the limited number of departures on each route per week, early bookers are expected to have the broadest choice of timings and the best chance of securing the lowest promotional fares.

For travelers planning ahead, the new links add fresh options to the mix alongside more established Spanish and Greek holiday routes. Families may gravitate towards Bari’s beach focused packages, while couples and groups of friends weigh Rome’s cultural attractions against Lisbon’s coastal vibe and nightlife. With the services timed to coincide with school holidays and warm weather, demand is likely to build steadily as summer 2026 approaches.

As the airline approaches its 30th anniversary and prepares to operate what it describes as its biggest ever UK flying programme, the addition of these Rome, Lisbon and Bari routes underscores easyJet’s continued bet on short haul European leisure travel. For travelers in Newcastle, Manchester and the wider catchment areas, it means more choice, more direct options and the prospect of southern European weekends at prices that still start from around the cost of a domestic rail ticket.