The European airline easyJet is significantly expanding its offering at Vienna Airport for the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule. After recently returning to Vienna Airport with the Vienna-Milan Linate route, the company is now announcing five new non-stop connections to and from Vienna for the coming winter season.
These new routes – to Bristol, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Bordeaux, and Basel – will be operated exclusively during the winter and are intended to enable easyJet to further expand its offering of attractive winter travel destinations for customers across Europe. Together with the existing routes from Innsbruck and Salzburg and a new direct connection between Innsbruck and Edinburgh, easyJet now offers a total of 17 direct connections to and from Austria, significantly expanding connectivity for winter tourism in Austria. The new flights are already available for booking and are intended to increase the appeal of Vienna as a destination during the Christmas season from November 13, 2025.
Return and expansion: Easyjet's strategy for Austria
The announcement of five new routes at Vienna Airport marks another step in easyJet's expanded presence in Austria. After a period of hesitancy, easyJet recently resumed direct service between Vienna and Milan Linate, which was already seen as a sign of a new direction. The five additional routes now planned for the 2025/2026 winter schedule impressively confirm this expansion strategy.
The selection of the new destinations is strategic: Bristol, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Bordeaux, and Basel. These cities represent important markets for both city and winter tourism and complement EasyJet's existing offering. The fact that these routes are operated exclusively in winter underscores the seasonal focus of the offer and the response to demand during the cold season, particularly around the Christmas and Advent holidays. This demonstrates how airlines adapt their flight schedules to seasonal patterns to maximize profitability.
Thomas Haagensen, Managing Director of Easyjet Europe, expressed his delight at the expansion: "We are delighted to be able to offer five new routes to and from Vienna next winter. Vienna is an attractive winter destination, and the new direct connections offer our passengers additional attractive travel options during the high-demand Christmas period." He also emphasized that the expansion of flight offerings "underlines the growth opportunities that Easyjet, as one of Europe's leading airlines, can offer for Austrian connectivity." Haagensen also signaled a willingness to expand further "if local market conditions are right," which could indicate further possible investments in the future.
Strengthening winter tourism: Vienna and Innsbruck as central hubs
The new EasyJet connections are a boon for Austrian tourism, especially during the winter season. Vienna, known for its festive atmosphere and traditional Christmas markets, traditionally attracts large numbers of visitors during the Advent season. The additional direct connections from major European cities will further improve international accessibility to the Austrian capital and support tourism value creation during this high-demand period.
Julian Jäger, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG, welcomed EasyJet's decision: "I am delighted about EasyJet's new connections – just in time for Advent, when the city attracts particularly large numbers of guests with its festive atmosphere and traditional Christmas markets. This underscores the high attractiveness of Vienna as a destination!" Collaboration with major airlines like EasyJet is crucial for airports to expand their networks and increase passenger volumes.
In addition to Vienna, Innsbruck will also benefit from the new winter connections. Starting December 7, 2025, EasyJet will add a new direct connection between Innsbruck and Edinburgh to its winter flight schedule. As the "Capital of the Alps," Innsbruck is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts and tourists who want to experience the mountains. The connection to Edinburgh expands the options for travelers from Scotland to reach the Austrian Alps and vice versa. In total, EasyJet now offers 17 direct connections to and from Austria, underscoring the country's importance as a winter tourism destination and improving regional connectivity to the European air transport network.
Flight schedule details and booking options
The new Easyjet routes from Austria for the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule at a glance:
- Vienna Airport – Liverpool: From November 13, 2025 to January 11, 2026, three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday).
- Vienna Airport – London Gatwick: From December 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026, up to four times a week (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday). London Gatwick is a major international airport and offers easy access to the entire EasyJet network.
- Vienna Airport – Bristol: From November 21, 2025, to January 2, 2026, twice a week (Monday, Friday). Bristol is an emerging UK destination, offering access to the South West of England.
- Vienna – Basel Airport: From November 15, 2025, to December 16, 2025, twice a week (Tuesday, Saturday). Basel is an important economic and cultural center bordering Switzerland, Germany, and France.
- Vienna Airport – Bordeaux: From November 27, 2025, to December 14, 2025, twice a week (Thursday, Sunday). Bordeaux is known for its wines and its attractive urban landscape.
- Innsbruck Airport – Edinburgh: From December 7, 2025, once a week (Sunday).
EasyJet's entire flight schedule through the end of March 2026 is now available for booking, allowing travelers to plan ahead. Exact flight times and ticket availability can be found directly on EasyJet's official website. The strategic focus on seasonal routes and the targeted response to demand during the Christmas period demonstrate EasyJet's flexibility in the highly competitive European aviation market. This allows the airline to use its aircraft efficiently while offering attractive travel options.
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