easyJet has announced 2 new routes from London Southend Airport, adding flights to Lyon and Sharm el-Sheikh as it expands its winter network from Essex.
The airline said tickets are on sale now. Services to Lyon start on 3 December 2026 and will operate twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, while flights to Sharm el-Sheikh begin on 4 January 2027 and will run twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
The move gives travellers in Essex and the wider South East more choice for winter trips, with easyJet continuing to build out its presence at London Southend.
The addition of Lyon gives passengers a direct link to one of France’s best-known city breaks, while Sharm el-Sheikh offers a route to the Egyptian Red Sea resort, a destination popular with leisure travellers seeking sunshine outside the peak summer months.
easyJet said the new services strengthen its network from the airport. The airline has positioned the routes as part of its wider push to offer more short-haul and holiday options for customers in the region.
For Southend Airport, the announcement adds two more international destinations to its schedule and increases the number of choices available to travellers who want to avoid the larger London airports.
Winter route launches often play an important role for airlines because demand shifts away from summer holidays and towards city breaks, beach escapes and family visits. By adding both a European city and a long-haul leisure destination, easyJet is targeting 2 different types of winter traveller.
The Lyon service is set to run through the colder months on a twice-weekly basis, which should appeal to passengers planning short breaks or visiting friends and family. The Sharm el-Sheikh route is timed for the start of the new year, a period when demand for warm-weather travel often rises.
Travellers booking the routes can choose between the French destination’s food, culture and ski connections, or the Egyptian resort’s beaches and diving opportunities. Both destinations are established parts of easyJet’s broader leisure offering across Europe and North Africa.
The airline’s latest announcement comes as carriers continue to compete for passengers looking for convenient, lower-cost flights from regional airports. For customers in Essex, the new routes mean more direct access to holiday and city break destinations without travelling into central London.
easyJet did not give further details on seat capacity or introductory fares in the announcement. It said only that the flights are available to book from today and that the new routes further strengthen its network from London Southend.
