EasyJet to reopen Newcastle base
May 22, 2025
Newcastle Airport is set to become easyJet’s 11th UK base. The low-cost carrier plans to reopen a base with three aircraft at the airport from spring 2026.
EasyJet already serves routes from Newcastle to various short-haul leisure and business destinations including Alicante, Amsterdam, Geneva, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Bristol and Belfast.
Having closed its original Newcastle base in September 2020 as a result of the Covid pandemic, the reopening will enable easyJet to expand its network from the region and further grow its share of the UK leisure market. Earlier this year, the airline opened a three-aircraft base at two other regional airports, London Southend and Birmingham International last year. It’s other UK bases include London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.
The UK is a key market for easyJet, with 56% of its passengers flying to and from UK airports. This summer will see the carrier operate its biggest ever UK flying programme with over 33 million seats.
The decision to open another base in Newcastle was “driven by demand,” said Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s CEO.
“This not only consolidates our position as the UK’s largest leisure airline but will create many skilled jobs and provide critical connectivity for the region, playing an important role in enabling vital economic growth for the UK.”
Meanwhile Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said, “this is fantastic news for the North East and Newcastle Airport – not only will it provide good jobs for local people and help boost the economy, it also means families will have more holiday destinations to choose from.
“This is exactly the kind of growth we want to see in the sector, so that the UK becomes one of the best places in the world to fly.”
The new base is expected to generate 130 new direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs at the airport. The airline currently employs over 14,000 across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Details of the reopening were announced amid easyJet reporting a headline pre-tax loss of £394 million for the six months to the end of March.
The airline continues to see “strong demand for easyJet’s flights and holidays” and remains “focused on delivering another record summer this year, expecting to drive strong earnings growth.”
