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Scottish holidaymakers eyeing a Mediterranean escape in 2027 will have two enticing new options, as Jet2 prepares to launch seasonal flights from Edinburgh Airport to sun-drenched Chania in Greece and the historic coastal city of Pula in Croatia.
New Routes Strengthen Edinburgh’s Mediterranean Network
Jet2 has confirmed that its summer 2027 schedule from Edinburgh Airport will feature new weekly flights to Chania on the Greek island of Crete and to Pula on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula. The additions respond to what the airline describes as strong early demand from customers keen to secure sunshine breaks well in advance.
According to Jet2’s latest programme announcement, services to Crete (Chania) will operate on Wednesdays from 5 May to 27 October 2027, while flights to Pula will run on Sundays from 2 May to 17 October 2027. Both routes are being marketed as exclusive from Edinburgh, expanding the airline’s Mediterranean reach from the Scottish capital.
The move forms part of Jet2’s wider growth strategy for summer 2027, which also includes a new route to Reus from Bournemouth. From Edinburgh alone, the airline and its tour operator arm Jet2holidays will offer 40 summer destinations, underlining Edinburgh’s status as a key base for the carrier in Scotland.
Jet2 says many customers are choosing to lock in their 2027 trips now, aiming to secure preferred hotels, family-friendly room types and school-holiday dates before availability tightens. The new Greek and Croatian links are designed to meet that demand while broadening the choice of resorts and cultural experiences reachable from Edinburgh.
Gateway to Western Crete’s Beaches and Venetian Heritage
The launch of Edinburgh to Chania flights gives Scottish travellers direct access to western Crete, avoiding the longer onward journey from Heraklion that has traditionally been required to reach this part of the island. Chania is Crete’s second-largest city and a long-time favourite for visitors drawn by its mix of sun, sea and history.
The city is best known for its 14th-century Venetian harbour, a photogenic waterfront lined with pastel-coloured townhouses, tavernas and boutiques, as well as its maze of narrow alleys that weave between Venetian, Ottoman and Greek-era buildings. The area’s layered architecture and atmospheric old town make it one of Greece’s most characterful urban strolls.
Beyond the city itself, the new route opens up some of Crete’s most celebrated landscapes. Western Crete is home to beaches including Elafonissi, famed for its pale pink sands and shallow turquoise waters, and Balos, known for its luminous lagoon backed by rugged hills. Inland, hikers gravitate towards the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe’s longest canyons and a major draw for active travellers.
Jet2holidays is expected to package the route with a range of resort options on Crete’s northwestern coast, from family-friendly beach hotels around Agia Marina and Platanias to smaller properties appealing to couples seeking quieter breaks. The airline has highlighted western Crete’s combination of natural beauty, traditional villages and reliable summer sunshine as key selling points for 2027.
Pula Offers Roman History on Croatia’s Adriatic Coast
The second new link from Edinburgh, to Pula, opens a fresh Croatian option for Scottish customers who have helped drive steady growth in UK travel to the Adriatic in recent years. Pula sits at the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula and is one of Croatia’s most historically significant coastal cities.
Its standout landmark is the remarkably preserved Roman amphitheatre, the Pula Arena, which dominates the city’s waterfront and ranks among the best-preserved ancient arenas in the world. Visitors can also explore the Temple of Augustus and remnants of Roman city walls, while winding streets in the old town reveal Austro-Hungarian and Italian influences added over the centuries.
The wider region blends cultural sightseeing with classic seaside holiday appeal. Pebble beaches and rocky coves fringe the coastline around Pula, and nearby resort areas offer swimming platforms, waterfront promenades and views across the Adriatic. Offshore, the Brijuni Islands national park provides opportunities for boat trips, cycling and gentle walking amid pine forests and Mediterranean flora.
By adding Edinburgh to Pula, Jet2 extends a network of routes that already includes services to the Istrian city from several English regional airports. The airline’s long-term partnership with the Croatian National Tourist Board is focused on increasing visitor numbers from the UK, and the new Scottish connection is expected to support that goal from summer 2027.
Schedules and Capacity Aimed at Families and Early Planners
Jet2’s choice of weekly departures for both new routes is designed to align with traditional seven and fourteen-night holiday patterns, particularly popular with families and couples booking package trips. Midweek flights to Chania and Sunday departures to Pula are expected to appeal to travellers coordinating time off work and school holidays.
The airline’s broader summer 2027 strategy emphasises booking early, noting that the most sought-after accommodation, including interconnecting and family rooms, can sell out months or even years in advance. By placing the Chania and Pula services on sale now, Jet2 and Jet2holidays aim to capture demand from organised travellers who prefer to secure their summer plans well ahead of time.
Industry observers say the decision also reflects confidence in the resilience of short-haul Mediterranean travel from Scotland. Despite economic headwinds, demand for sunshine breaks has remained robust, with customers often prioritising annual holidays and looking for dependable operators with transparent pricing and luggage allowances.
Jet2 continues to position itself in that space, highlighting its 10kg hand luggage allowance, inclusive transfers on package holidays and what it calls industry-leading customer service. The airline has consistently ranked strongly in consumer surveys and has been cited by travel trade publications for its reliability on leisure routes.
Boost for Edinburgh Airport and Scottish Holidaymakers
For Edinburgh Airport, securing exclusive Jet2 routes to Chania and Pula enhances its portfolio of Mediterranean links and supports its strategy of offering more direct sunshine destinations from Scotland. Airport management has repeatedly stressed the importance of leisure traffic in driving route development and supporting year-round operations.
Tourism and travel agents in Scotland are expected to benefit from the expanded choice. The ability to package western Crete and Istria directly from Edinburgh should provide fresh options for both first-time visitors and repeat Mediterranean travellers seeking somewhere new without the need for connections via London or European hubs.
Local agents say the mix of beach relaxation, historic city centres and varied regional excursions offered by both destinations fits well with evolving customer preferences. Families often look for resorts with easy access to cultural sights and nature, while couples and groups are increasingly building short road trips or island-hopping itineraries around a single arrival airport.
With flights stretching from early May into late October 2027, the new services are also set to extend the practical holiday season for Scottish travellers, making shoulder-month escapes to Crete and Croatia more accessible from the capital.