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Connectivity between the United Kingdom and France is set to tighten next year as easyJet launches new direct flights between London Stansted and Paris Charles de Gaulle, adding fresh capacity on one of Europe’s busiest travel corridors from March 2026.
New Stansted–Paris Route Adds Capacity on Key Corridor
London Stansted Airport has confirmed that easyJet will introduce a new direct service to Paris Charles de Gaulle from 5 March 2026, restoring a link that has been absent from the airport’s schedule in recent years. The move comes as airlines race to strengthen their presence on the London–Paris corridor, where demand from both leisure and business travellers continues to grow.
The service will initially operate twice weekly and is planned as a seasonal route across the spring and summer schedule. Flights are set to run on Mondays and Fridays for most of the season, capturing peak demand for long weekend city breaks and short business trips between the two capitals.
easyJet has positioned the new connection as part of a broader expansion of its European network for summer 2026, which includes 16 new routes from eight UK airports. With the addition of Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Stansted will see its easyJet network grow to seven destinations, underscoring the airport’s role as a rising hub for low-cost European travel.
Timings, Fares and Holiday Packages Target City-Break Travellers
While full schedules for summer 2026 are still being refined, the new Paris flights are structured around convenient early-morning and late-afternoon slots to maximise short-stay flexibility. The Monday and Friday pattern is designed to appeal to passengers planning two to four night stays in either London or Paris, as well as to business travellers seeking efficient out-and-back trips tied to the working week.
Launch fares are advertised from around £35.99 one way, keeping the route firmly within the budget sector and competing directly with both other low-cost carriers and the cost of rail travel when booked at short notice. easyJet is also promoting the connection through its in-house tour operator, with easyJet holidays packaging city hotels and short breaks in both central Paris and areas with easy RER or metro access to key attractions.
By focusing on competitive pricing and bundled breaks, the airline is aiming to win over travellers who might otherwise opt for the Eurostar or other airlines serving the route from neighbouring London airports. The added capacity for spring and summer is expected to support both outbound UK tourism to France and inbound visitor numbers to London and the wider East of England.
Stansted Strengthens Its Position in the London Market
The London market is already one of Europe’s most competitive aviation arenas, but Stansted has been steadily increasing its share of international traffic through a mix of low-cost and leisure-focused carriers. In recent seasons, the airport has attracted new services to major hubs including Istanbul and a string of Mediterranean destinations, and the addition of Paris Charles de Gaulle further broadens its appeal.
For Stansted, securing a non-stop link to one of Europe’s premier connecting hubs is strategically important. Paris Charles de Gaulle offers onward access to a large global network, and while easyJet operates primarily as a point-to-point airline, the route will still make it easier for passengers in eastern England and the northern Home Counties to reach France and, via separate tickets, other parts of continental Europe and beyond.
The new flights also reflect sustained investment in Stansted’s terminal facilities and route development. Airport executives have highlighted the Paris launch as a vote of confidence in the airport’s growth prospects, reinforcing its role as a key alternative to Heathrow and Gatwick for low-cost European services.
Growing Competition With Rail and Other London Airports
easyJet’s latest move comes amid intensifying competition between air and rail on the London–Paris corridor. Eurostar has long dominated direct travel between the two capitals, but airlines are now ramping up capacity from multiple London airports to both major Paris hubs in a bid to attract price-sensitive and time-flexible travellers.
Across the London system, 2026 schedules are set to include services to Paris from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Southend and Stansted, feeding into both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly. For easyJet, the Stansted launch complements existing flights from Gatwick, Luton and Southend, giving the airline an unusually comprehensive footprint across the capital’s airports and offering passengers more choice of departure point depending on where they live or work.
Industry observers note that the expanding menu of London–Paris flights may put downward pressure on average airfares outside of peak holiday periods, even as Eurostar maintains its own strong brand and loyal customer base. Passengers who prioritise speed to city centre locations may still favour rail, while those seeking the lowest upfront prices or travelling from outside central London could increasingly opt for the new wave of short-haul flights.
Economic and Tourism Benefits for Both Sides of the Channel
Tourism and business groups on both sides of the Channel have welcomed the additional connectivity. Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and easier access from London Stansted’s wide catchment area is expected to support spending in the French capital’s hotels, restaurants, museums and attractions throughout the warmer months.
For the United Kingdom, the route adds another convenient access point into London for French visitors and for international travellers pairing a Paris stay with time in the UK. The East of England’s growing visitor economy, including cities such as Cambridge as well as coastal destinations in Essex and Suffolk, could also benefit as more European travellers arrive via Stansted.
Analysts say that in an era of heightened focus on sustainable travel, airlines and airports will still face scrutiny over environmental impacts. However, the sustained demand for quick, flexible connections between the UK and France suggests that routes such as Stansted to Paris Charles de Gaulle will remain attractive, particularly when operated with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and complemented by rail and coach links that help passengers complete their journeys with fewer emissions overall.