Newcastle Gets Three New Summer Escapes
Jet2 has launched three new summer routes at Newcastle Airport, adding Porto, Preveza and Palermo to its Summer 2026 programme. The expansion comes as demand grows for European sunshine holidays and city breaks among travellers in North East England. The first new service, Porto, departed on 22 May, starting a wider rollout of flights over the following days.
Porto flights now operate twice weekly, every Monday and Friday. The city, set beside the Douro River, adds a short-break option with museums, galleries, nightlife, river cruises, local food and nearby beaches. Jet2’s Palermo service is due to begin on 26 May, with weekly Tuesday flights running through the summer season.
New Route Schedule
Jet2’s new Newcastle routes will run on the following summer timetable:
- Porto: twice weekly, Mondays and Fridays, launched 22 May
- Palermo: weekly Tuesday flights, starting 26 May
- Preveza: weekly Wednesday flights, starting 27 May
Preveza will act as a gateway to Greece’s Ionian coast, including Lefkada and Parga. Palermo adds access to Sicily’s capital, beaches and resorts, while Porto brings a city-break option with river views, local food and nearby beaches.
The new routes give North East holidaymakers more direct options for very different types of summer trips. Porto suits a shorter city break with food, wine and river views. Palermo opens Sicily’s architecture, markets and coast, while Preveza makes Lefkada and Parga easier to reach for beach holidays without building a trip around a larger connecting airport.
The additions strengthen Newcastle Airport’s summer leisure programme and reduce the need for some travellers to start their holiday with a longer journey to another UK airport. Jet2 is clearly leaning into demand for routes that mix beaches with culture. For local passengers, the change is practical: more direct departures, simpler planning and a wider choice of European summer breaks.