If you haven’t already, now is the time to start making some resolutions. We recommend skipping the doomed meal plans and gym memberships in favour of a resolution you’ll actually want to keep up: seeing more of the world.
There are plenty of places worth visiting next year – our roundup of the 26 best new things to do around the world in 2026 includes everything from a new hotel in a Brazilian sculpture park to a mega immersive artwork in Paris. Fan of train travel? From Spain to Canada, these are some of the most exciting routes launching in 2026.
But what about flight routes? Airlines across the world have been revealing their 2026 programmes in recent weeks, and we’ve had a look at pretty much all of them to find the most exciting new routes coming to our skies next year. Some of them go halfway across the world and bring together global capitals, others make exploring a single country easier than ever, but all of them offer something new.
Jet2
Jet2 had a great 2025. Aside from being at the heart of the biggest TikTok trend of the year, it was named the best short-haul airline in the world and the UK’s most reliable, and last month it announced that in 2026 it will begin launching flights from London Gatwick.
Twenty-nine destinations will be available from Gatwick with Jet2. None of them are new for the airport, but there will be much more choice for holidaymakers going to places like Mallorca and Faro, which will both gain 10 new flights a week. You can see the full list of places Jet2 is adding to the list from Gatwick here.
Norwegian
Norwegian Airlines is bringing two brand-new routes to the skies this year, leaving Stockholm better connected to Europe and the Middle East.
Basel – Stockholm Arlanda will launch from summer 2026. There are currently no direct flights or trains between the two cities, so this is a pretty big deal.
Beirut – Stockholm Arlanda will also launch next summer. Again, this will become the only direct connection between the two major hubs.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air seems to be focused on improving connectivity from Poland, where several smaller airports are gaining new connections this year.
Katowice/Sofia – Rimini will launch on March 31. They will run three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Neither the Polish city of Katowice or the Bulgarian capital currently have easy access to this north Italian beach town, so this new route presents a great budget option for summer holidays.
Katowice/Lublin/Gdansk – Rijeka will begin next summer on June 9. Three new Polish cities will gain direct flights to Rijeka, a popular seaside town in Croatia with clear blue water and fewer crowds than Split or Dubrovnik. It will run twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Iberia
Madrid – Toronto will take off on June 13, and operate five times a week. AirCanada is the only airline that does this route at the moment, so this new route will present more options for timings and more competitive pricing, which is always good for consumers.
Jetstar
Jetstar is one of Australia’s biggest low-cost airlines, and on August 25 it will become the sole budget operator to fly between the nation and Sri Lanka. Melbourne – Colombo will take off on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and will be a brilliant option for Aussie holidaymakers or gap-year-takers with less cash to throw around. You can learn more about the route here.
American Airlines
Eurosummer 2026 anyone? American Airlines will become the first provider to offer a couple of new routes between the USA and Europe next year.
Flights from Dallas to both Zurich and Athens will launch on May 21, becoming the first direct connection between the European cities and Texas. Philadelphia will gain nonstop flights to Budapest and Prague for the first time ever on May 21.
EasyJet
Easyjet has announced a few new routes from the UK, with a focus on expanding outside of London.
Notably, Newcastle will gain flights to Tenerife on August 1, you’ll be able to travel directly from Birmingham to Inverness (which is set to be one of the biggest solo travel destinations of the year, according to Airbnb) from March 30, and a brand new route from Bristol to the Cape Verde island of Sal is coming on May 1.
British Airways
British Airways is improving the connection between two major global capitals: London Gatwick – Bangkok flights will now be year-round. There aren’t many operators running this long-haul flight, so this will be very helpful to those who regularly visit Thailand for business or leisure.
The airline is also launching two new direct routes from London Heathrow. The first is a seasonal route to up-and-coming summer spot Tivat in Montenegro; the second is a year-round route to Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
Virgin Atlantic
Yet another super-long-haul trip, Virgin Atlantic will begin flying daily from London Heathrow – Seoul on March 29. This is brand new for the airline, and another welcome addition to the limited number of direct connections between London and east Asia.
Delta
Delta is launching the first-ever nonstop flight between the US and Saudi Arabia next year. From October, three flights a week will run from Atlanta – Riyadh.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is launching a non-stop service between Seattle and London in 2026. From May, it’ll run daily from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to London Heathrow.
Multiple new routes from Glasgow Airport
Glasgow will see a massive boost in holiday destinations next year, as both Easyjet and RyanAir have announced plans to launch multiple new routes.
EasyJet is adding Lisbon, Malta, Pisa and Sharm El Sheikh to Glasgow’s roster. Lisbon will run three times a week from March 29, while Pisa and Sharm El Sheikh will both launch on August 1 and run twice weekly. Lastly, flights to Malta will start on August 4.
RyanAir is adding 600,000 more seats from Glasgow Airport next year. This will be split across increasing the frequency of some routes, and introducing flights to Warsaw on March 29.
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