easyJet to Reopen Newcastle Base in 2026
easyJet will return to Newcastle International Airport in March 2026 with a new three-aircraft base, marking its first presence in the northeast since the pandemic forced a five-year hiatus. The low-cost carrier’s announcement, made during its half-year results on May 22, outlined plans to recruit around 130 pilots, cabin crew and engineers, while supporting an estimated 1,200 additional jobs throughout the local supply chain and tourism sector.
Currently operating eight routes from Newcastle—including Amsterdam, Geneva, Palma de Mallorca and Paris—easyJet plans to unveil new summer 2026 destinations in the coming weeks. CEO Kenton Jarvis emphasized the strategic importance of the northeast, noting that the region has been underserved by affordable carriers and that the reinstated base will “give better route connectivity and great affordable fares” to communities across Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear.
The Newcastle expansion brings easyJet’s total U.K. bases to 11 and follows recent openings at London Southend, Birmingham and Bristol. The airline is gearing up to operate its largest ever U.K. summer schedule in 2025, with more than 33 million seats on sale—approximately 500,000 more than in summer 2024. In Italy, easyJet has also launched bases at Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino after being designated a remedy-taker in the Lufthansa-ITA Airways deal, while closing smaller hubs in Venice and Toulouse to concentrate resources on higher-volume markets.
Chief Commercial Officer Sophie Dekkers highlighted the strong demand at the recently opened London Southend base, where load factors have outperformed network averages thanks in part to easyJet holidays bookings. She expects similar traction at the Italian bases as selling windows extend and promotional campaigns mature. Dekkers also pointed to shifting competitive dynamics, noting that rival Wizz Air has withdrawn from 14 head-to-head routes this summer—including four in Rome—creating new opportunities for easyJet to capture market share.
As part of its growth strategy, easyJet continues to expand leisure services beyond Europe, particularly into North Africa. The carrier has ramped up operations from its French bases to Morocco and Tunisia, targeting year-round vacation and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic with a mix of scheduled and seasonal flights.
Financially, easyJet reported a headline loss before tax of £394 million for the six months ending March 31, but achieved an 8 percent increase in group revenue to £3.53 billion year-on-year. Management reiterated guidance for a headline profit before tax of £703 million in the 12 months to September 30, driven by cost controls, ancillary revenue growth and capacity discipline.
Construction of the Newcastle base will involve installation of additional ground support equipment, crew facilities and maintenance hangars, with detailed planning under way in coordination with airport authorities. Regional stakeholders have welcomed the move, pointing to economic multipliers from increased visitor spending, business travel and cargo connectivity. The new base is expected to strengthen Newcastle’s position as a gateway for northern England, offering travelers more choice and competitive fares across easyJet’s expanding network.
As easyJet prepares to station aircraft and personnel in Newcastle once again, the airline’s leadership is confident that renewed investment in the northeast will deliver sustainable growth, improved connectivity and enhanced value for both local communities and the broader U.K. market.
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