easyJet and Ryanair Unveil Major 2026 Expansion at Liverpool Airport?
Key Points
- 1easyJet is launching new direct flights to Lisbon (March 31), Paphos (August 2), and Naples (August 2026) from Liverpool Airport.
- 2Ryanair is basing a sixth aircraft at Liverpool, representing a $600 million investment, and adding new routes to Warsaw, Marrakesh, and Tirana.
- 3The expansion follows Liverpool Airport's 21% passenger growth in 2024, reaching 5.1 million, and aims to break all previous passenger records in 2026.
- 4The growth enhances North West connectivity but is shadowed by Ryanair's criticism of the UK's Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) is preparing for significant growth in 2026, driven by major easyJet and Ryanair expansion plans. This move solidifies the airport's position in the UK regional airport market after a strong performance year. LJLA handled 5.1 million passengers in 2024, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. The airport was also voted the UK's best in the 2024 Which? annual survey.
Low-Cost Carrier Investment Fuels Growth
The dual expansion by two major low-cost carriers signals strong confidence in Liverpool John Lennon Airport growth. The new routes and increased capacity aim to break previous passenger records in 2026.
easyJet's New Mediterranean and City Routes
easyJet will launch three new routes from Liverpool in 2026, targeting popular European leisure destinations. The airline's new Lisbon connection begins on March 31, operating three times weekly. Flights to Paphos, Cyprus, will start on August 2, running twice a week. Furthermore, easyJet will introduce flights to Naples, Italy, starting in August 2026, operating twice weekly. This expansion builds on eight new routes easyJet launched in the prior 12 months, including Split and Sharm El-Sheikh.
Ryanair Commits Sixth Aircraft to Liverpool
Ryanair is making a substantial commitment to the airport's future. The carrier will base a sixth aircraft at Liverpool for the summer 2026 season. This represents a reported investment of $600 million (approximately £450 million) in the North West. The additional capacity is expected to drive Ryanair's annual passenger numbers at Liverpool above 2.4 million.
Ryanair's new routes for 2026 include:
- Warsaw, Poland: Starting February 2, operating three times a week.
- Marrakesh, Morocco: Available from April, operating twice weekly.
- Tirana, Albania: Starting in March, operating twice weekly.
This expansion will increase Ryanair's total destinations from Liverpool to 34. The airline will also boost frequencies on 11 existing routes, including Alicante and Faro.
Impact on North West Connectivity
This significant increase in Liverpool Airport new routes 2026 provides greater choice for travellers in the North West. The new services offer direct access to key European cities and Mediterranean sun destinations. This reduces reliance on other major regional hubs.
Airport CEO John Irving noted the growth is around 12% year-on-year. He expects this trend to continue through 2026. The airport's success is supported by recent multi-million-pound investments in facilities. These include a revamped departure lounge and new security screening equipment.
However, Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer raised concerns about the UK's Air Passenger Duty (APD). The executive suggested the tax is a threat to continued growth at UK regional airports. The low-cost carrier called for the abolition of the APD tax. This highlights a key challenge in the low-cost carrier investment environment. The expansion still delivers over two million low-fare seats to 34 European destinations. For the latest commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.
Additionally, Jet2 will operate a one-off charter flight to Bergen, Norway, in April 2026.
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