London Gatwick Airport is preparing for a significant expansion of its airline roster in 2026, with seven new carriers set to begin operations, strengthening the airport’s position as one of the UK’s busiest international hubs.
Among the most high-profile additions is Jet2.com, which will open a new base at Gatwick from 26 March 2026. The UK’s third-largest airline will deploy six aircraft and operate 29 routes across Europe, covering destinations in Spain, the Canary and Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus. The move is expected to create around 300 direct jobs locally, with additional employment generated across the wider supply chain.
Air France will also make its debut at Gatwick, launching a twice-daily service to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from 29 March. The new route adds further competition on one of Europe’s busiest air corridors.
Germany will be well represented among the new entrants. Eurowings is set to begin operations on 29 March with 13 weekly flights to Cologne, followed by six weekly services to Stuttgart from 13 April. Fellow German carrier Condor will also launch flights between Gatwick and Frankfurt from April.
Further afield, Beijing Capital Airlines is reported to be launching services from Gatwick to Qingdao, expanding the airport’s links with East Asia.
Middle East connectivity will increase with Air Arabia launching twice-daily flights to Sharjah from 29 March. The service will be the only direct link between Sharjah and the UK.
Completing the line-up, Romanian carrier AminaWings will introduce six weekly flights between Bucharest and Gatwick from 22 March.
The airline additions follow a busy 2025 for Gatwick, which welcomed new carriers including Qanot Sharq, Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines, Air Peace and Skybus. Looking further ahead, the airport has also secured approval for a £2.2 billion privately financed second runway project, which would enable greater capacity and the potential for further route expansion.
With new airlines, new routes and major infrastructure investment on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Gatwick, and for travellers seeking greater choice from the South East.