Stansted Airport plans to launch nine new flight routes during 2026, expanding its destination network across Europe and Turkey.
New Routes and Operators Introduced
Turkish Airlines initiated a new service to Istanbul from Stansted in March 2026, offering up to 15 flights weekly. EasyJet has opened a route to Paris Charles de Gaulle. Ryanair added a connection to Malmö, Sweden. Jet2.com launched flights to three destinations: Jerez in southern Spain, Samos in Greece, and La Palma in the Canary Islands. TUI introduced new flights to Kos, Greece. BA CityFlyer started services to Olbia, Sardinia. AJet added a Bodrum, Turkey route. Cyprus Airways announced plans to
resume flights between Stansted and Larnaca, Cyprus.
Scheduling and Service Frequencies
Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul service began operations in March 2026 and runs up to 15 times a week. The airline runs 170 weekly flights across the UK and Ireland during peak summer, with Stansted as its sixth UK airport base. Frequencies for other new routes have not been disclosed.
Passenger Benefits and Connectivity
The introduction of these nine new routes increases the total destinations served from Stansted to more than 200. Passengers gain more options for leisure and business travel, including direct access to Turkish Airlines’ hub in Istanbul, which connects to over 350 international destinations worldwide.
Ciaran
Brannigan, commercial director at London Stansted Airport, said, “We’re delighted to welcome new airlines and routes during 2026 that give our passengers even greater choice, value and convenience.” He added that the airport continues to grow as a key gateway for travel across Europe and beyond, strengthening its commitment to providing more destinations and better connectivity for travellers.
Stansted remains one of the UK’s busiest international airports, solidifying its role as a significant hub for European and Turkish travel with its expanding route network.
