London Gatwick Soars in 2026 as Jet2, Air Arabia and Eurowings Unleash New Bases, Daily Flights and Major Capacity Gains

London Gatwick is being positioned for its most extensive summer schedule since 2019, as airlines significantly expand their presence through new routes, additional based aircraft and notable capacity growth. The developments are being driven both by new entrants and by existing carriers that are reinforcing their networks from the airport, creating a broader and more diverse range of travel options for passengers. A total of 62 airlines are expected to serve more than 230 destinations in summer 2026, with eight new carriers joining the line‑up and reinforcing Gatwick’s role as a major European gateway.

Alongside these changes, Jet2 is accelerating its own expansion by building on its initial move into London Gatwick. The carrier’s future 27 per cent capacity increase for summer 2027 is being prepared on the back of a substantial presence that is being established in 2026, when a new base is being opened at the airport. This rapid scaling is being matched by other airlines that are adding long‑haul connectivity, regional links and Middle East services, collectively reshaping the airport’s route map and overall capacity.

Jet2: major new base and sharp leisure growth

Jet2 is being positioned as one of the most significant drivers of capacity growth at London Gatwick in 2026. A full operating base is being established at the airport in March 2026, with six aircraft being stationed on site to support an extensive leisure network. A total of 29 routes are being scheduled for the first summer season, delivering a large volume of additional seats into key sun and city markets across Europe.

This capacity is being layered on top of Jet2’s longer‑term growth plans, which include a 27 per cent increase in summer 2027 from London Gatwick. The 2026 base is therefore being used as a platform for sustained expansion rather than a short‑term deployment. By focusing on destinations in Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus, the airline is being used to saturate the leisure segment with more flight options and higher frequencies, enabling the airport to capture a larger share of outbound holiday demand from London and the wider south‑east England region.

Air Arabia: double‑daily Sharjah link and Middle East uplift

Air Arabia is being positioned as a key contributor to the surge in Middle East capacity from London Gatwick in 2026. A new Sharjah–Gatwick route is being inaugurated from 29 March 2026, with flights being operated twice daily. This schedule provides 14 weekly services on the route, representing a substantial injection of additional seats into the Gulf market. Airbus A321LR aircraft are being deployed, combining long‑range capability with a high‑density, single‑class cabin that is tailored to price‑sensitive leisure and visiting‑friends‑and‑relatives traffic.

The new operation is being highlighted as the only direct air service between Sharjah and the United Kingdom, giving Gatwick a unique selling point in the UK–UAE market. Through onward connectivity in Sharjah, passengers are being given access to a broad network of destinations across the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The added capacity from Air Arabia is being integrated into an already expanding Middle East portfolio at Gatwick, with the total number of weekly flights between the airport and the region expected to reach about 80 in summer 2026. In this context, Air Arabia’s double‑daily schedule is being recognised as a major driver of overall seat growth and route diversity.

Animawings: restored Romanian capacity with near‑daily Bucharest flights

Animawings is being used to restore and expand Romanian capacity at London Gatwick through a new connection to Bucharest. From 22 March 2026, a six‑times‑weekly Bucharest–Gatwick service is being launched, providing near‑daily coverage of this city pair. Airbus A220‑300 aircraft are being utilised, offering a modern and fuel‑efficient narrowbody product with a cabin suited to both leisure and business passengers.

This development is being framed as a reinstatement of Romanian‑operated services to London following TAROM’s exit from the market, thereby replacing lost capacity and adding new growth. The frequency profile gives travellers multiple weekly options for short breaks, business trips and visiting‑friends‑and‑relatives journeys, while also strengthening Bucharest’s connectivity to the London aviation system. As a result, total Romania–Gatwick capacity is being lifted, with Animawings becoming the primary carrier on this route from the airport.

Capital / Beijing Capital Airlines: added China seats with Qingdao seasonal route

Capital Airlines, also referred to as Beijing Capital Airlines, is being positioned as the key source of new China capacity at London Gatwick for summer 2026. A seasonal route between Qingdao and Gatwick is being scheduled as a weekly service, operated by Airbus A330‑200 aircraft. Flights are being planned to run between 24 June and 7 October 2026, directly targeting the peak summer travel period for both outbound and inbound demand.

This weekly operation is being used to add a fresh long‑haul leisure and visiting‑friends‑and‑relatives link into the airport’s portfolio. By connecting a major Chinese coastal city directly with London Gatwick, an additional flow of passengers is being attracted that might otherwise have connected through other European or Asian hubs. The deployment of widebody A330‑200 aircraft ensures that each rotation contributes a significant number of seats, incrementally raising Gatwick’s total long‑haul capacity to Asia and reinforcing its positioning as an alternative London gateway for China‑bound traffic.

Condor: high‑frequency hub access and UK–Germany capacity growth

Condor is being introduced at London Gatwick with a strategy centred on frequency and hub connectivity, driving a clear increase in UK–Germany capacity. From April 2026, three daily flights are being launched between Frankfurt and Gatwick, using Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. This triple‑daily pattern is being calibrated to align with key banks of departures and arrivals at Frankfurt, facilitating same‑day connections to Condor’s broader European and long‑haul network.

The inauguration of these services represents Condor’s first scheduled London operation, and the associated seat injection is being viewed as a meaningful addition to the UK–Germany market. By offering multiple daily flight options, the airline is being enabled to serve both time‑sensitive business travellers and flexible leisure passengers. The use of new‑generation narrowbody aircraft is being leveraged to deliver lower unit costs and improved environmental performance, which can be translated into competitive fares and a robust capacity offering on this new corridor between Gatwick and one of Europe’s primary hub airports.

Air France: renewed Paris CDG connectivity and added hub‑feed capacity

Air France is being re‑introduced to the London Gatwick market after more than 30 years, bringing additional capacity and connectivity to the London–Paris corridor. From 29 March 2026, two daily flights are being scheduled between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Gatwick, operated with Airbus A220 aircraft. This double‑daily pattern is being designed to provide morning and evening options, supporting both same‑day returns and longer stays.

The new services are being used to add both point‑to‑point capacity and hub‑feed potential. Passengers from Gatwick are being given direct access to Paris Charles de Gaulle, from which Air France and its partners are offering long‑haul services to North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The additional seat supply on this route is being expected to stimulate competition and increase flexibility for travellers who previously relied more heavily on Heathrow or on alternative carriers. At the same time, inbound passengers from France and other markets are being presented with a convenient entry point to London and the south‑east, enhancing Gatwick’s attractiveness within the wider Air France network.

Eurowings: expanded German regional capacity via Cologne and Stuttgart

Eurowings is being utilised to expand regional German capacity at London Gatwick through the introduction of two significant routes in 2026. From 29 March 2026, a Cologne–Gatwick service is being launched with 13 weekly flights, delivering multiple frequencies on several days and enabling flexible travel planning. On 12 April 2026, a Stuttgart–Gatwick route is being added with six weekly flights, enhancing connectivity to another important German city. Both routes are being operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.

These services are being used to rebuild and expand city pairs that had previously been dropped by other carriers, resulting in a net increase in German regional capacity from Gatwick. The high weekly frequency to Cologne makes day‑return and short‑stay trips more viable for business and leisure travellers, while the near‑daily Stuttgart operation reinforces the airport’s access to southern Germany. Collectively, the added seats from Eurowings are being integrated into a broader trend of growing European regional connectivity at Gatwick, complementing the capacity being supplied by Condor and other carriers.

Multiple Middle East carriers: incremental capacity through upgauges and added frequencies

Beyond the headline growth being delivered by Air Arabia, several established Middle East carriers are also being observed increasing capacity from London Gatwick through a combination of frequency additions and aircraft upgauges. Wizz Air has been expanding its presence with services to Medina and Jeddah, using Airbus A321XLR aircraft to provide longer‑range, high‑efficiency operations that support both religious tourism and visiting‑friends‑and‑relatives traffic. Qatar Airways has been progressively enhancing its Doha services from Gatwick with larger Boeing 787‑9 aircraft, lifting the number of seats available on each rotation.

Saudia has been building on its route to Neom Bay, and Gulf Air has been operating its Bahrain route through its first full northern summer schedule from Gatwick. These moves are being combined with Air Arabia’s new Sharjah flights to produce an overall Middle East schedule of approximately 80 weekly flights from the airport in summer 2026. The cumulative effect of these changes is being reflected in a marked increase in available seats across the Gulf and wider Middle East region, with Gatwick being positioned as a competitive alternative to other London airports for passengers bound for these destinations.

Airport‑wide capacity picture: airline‑driven growth across 2026

When the contributions of each airline are aggregated, London Gatwick’s capacity profile for summer 2026 is being transformed. Jet2’s six based aircraft and 29‑route network are being used to deliver a large expansion in short‑haul leisure seats. Air Arabia’s double‑daily Sharjah operation is being added to an already expanding Middle East portfolio, while Animawings’ six‑times‑weekly Bucharest service restores and grows Romanian capacity. Capital / Beijing Capital Airlines’ weekly Qingdao A330‑200 service is being deployed to open up new long‑haul China seats, and Condor’s three daily Frankfurt flights are being used to substantially enlarge the UK–Germany market from Gatwick.

At the same time, Air France’s twice‑daily Paris Charles de Gaulle operation is being reinstated to add short‑haul capacity and provide hub‑feed into a global network. Eurowings’ 13‑weekly Cologne and six‑weekly Stuttgart flights are being rolled out to expand German regional capacity and reintroduce previously lost connectivity. Established Middle East operators are being observed layering further capacity through additional frequencies and larger aircraft. Overall, 62 airlines are expected to operate more than 230 destinations from Gatwick in summer 2026, with eight new carriers, including Jet2, AirAsia X, Condor, Air Arabia, Air France, Eurowings, Animawings and Beijing Capital Airlines, being responsible for a significant portion of the incremental seats.

Through these airline‑by‑airline expansions, the airport’s network breadth and seat capacity are being lifted back to, and in some areas beyond, pre‑2019 levels. Passengers are being offered more choices, higher frequencies and new long‑haul and regional options, while airlines are being positioned to capture growing demand in both leisure and business segments. In this way, London Gatwick’s 2026 growth story is being written directly through the capacity decisions of its key airline partners, each contributing distinct route additions, base operations and upgauges that collectively reshape the airport’s role in the European and global aviation landscape.

The post London Gatwick Soars in 2026 as Jet2, Air Arabia and Eurowings Unleash New Bases, Daily Flights and Major Capacity Gains appeared first on Travel and Tour World