The lull between the summer holidays ending and the festive season beginning is used by airports across the UK to prepare for a surge in demand during December.
With just over two months of 2025 left, the super-organised among us will already be either preparing a festive getaway or looking even further ahead into the New Year.
A traveller’s intended destination often dictates the airport they travel from, but here in the East Midlands we’re fortunate to be near a regional airport serving more than 80 destinations.
East Midlands Airport is used by millions of people each year, making it the 14th-busiest airport in the UK.
The airport is set to get even busier in 2026, with several new destinations already confirmed for next year.
From sun-kissed Mediterranean islands to major European cities, these exciting new routes are now taking bookings.
Here are the 9 new routes launching from East Midlands airport in 2026, including Thessaloniki and Geneva:
9. Chania, Greece
Jet2 will operate brand-new weekly Tuesday services from East Midlands Airport to Chania from 26th May to 27th October, 2026, offering holidaymakers the opportunity to explore Crete’s breath-taking western region for the very first time from the airport base. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
10. Thessaloniki, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece, is part of Jet2's new offering from EMA in summer 2026. Photo: AFP via Getty Images