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easyJet’s first flight took place 31 years ago, in 1995. It is now the second-largest airline in Europe by flights. According to the carrier’s latest schedule submission to OAG, it has 7% of Europe’s short-haul activity. Due to its fairly high-capacity Airbus aircraft, it rises to about 8% for seats for sale.
Earlier this week, the low-cost carrier revealed 18 new and returning routes, which included some particularly long stage lengths. When the great circle distance is considered, it has its new longest route ever: Amsterdam to Sal, Cape Verde. However, as this article shows, things are different if block time is examined instead.
This Is easyJet’s Longest Route By Block Time
While it varies, articles that examine an airline’s longest or shortest links typically focus on block time. Measured as chocks-off-to-chocks-on, or gate-to-gate or stand-to-stand, this is what’s shown on an airline’s website, in other booking locations, and in schedules. Reflecting slot possession, where relevant, it includes taxi time at both airports, flight time, and a period for short delays.
This article explores all of easyJet’s routes that are due to operate between May and December 2026. It reflects what is known as of April 30, with the details potentially changing later this year. Moreover, additional routes may be revealed for the winter 2026/2027.
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Timed up to six hours and 40 minutes, two routes are tied for the top spot. The direction of the route with the highest block time is Hurghada back to both Belfast International (twice-weekly) and Edinburgh (twice-weekly). Hurghada is renowned as an inbound tourist destination for Europeans and a place for snorkeling. While both routes have been served since 2023, the Northern Ireland link runs year round, even during the summer, when temperatures in Egypt are extreme. In contrast, Edinburgh flights operate during the winter.
Until the latest routes were announced, Belfast to Hurghada was always easyJet’s longest route by distance. But due to Amsterdam-Sal flights materializing, it will now be second in this sense. Moreover, Edinburgh to Hurghada only ranks seventh. This illustrates how the results change depending on what is measured.
|
Days |
Belfast To Hurghada; Local Times* |
Hurghada To Belfast; Local Times** |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesdays, Saturdays |
12:55 PM-8:45 PM |
9:45 PM-2:25 AM+1 (six hours and 40 minutes) |
|
* In November |
** In November |
easyJet’s Second To Fifth-Longest Links
At up to six hours and 35 minutes, Hurghada back to Glasgow is second. easyJet has served this long market since 2023, with flights running twice-weekly on a year-round basis. Like many of the routes mentioned in this article, easyJet Holidays is critical. It is unlikely to serve such places without that package holiday unit.
The third entry by time is new. Timed at up to six hours and 30 minutes, it is Sharm el-Sheikh back to Belfast International. easyJet’s first-ever flight will leave Northern Ireland on October 25, which is when northern carriers switch to winter schedules based on IATA slot seasons.
That route has never previously been on easyJet’s map. However, various airlines have served it before, most recently TUI in 2015. That was when Metrojet flight 9628 exploded over Egypt after departing from Sharm. A bomb was believed to have been placed on the aircraft in the Egyptian tourist resort. Safety concerns meant that no airline operated between the UK and Sharm until December 2019, when Travel Insurance Explained reported that Red Sea Holidays had resumed its package tours from British airports.
At up to six hours and 25 minutes, three links are tied for the fourth spot. And all of them are brand-new to easyJet’s network. They’re Sharm el-Sheikh back to Glasgow (twice-weekly; new route, starting August 1; announced in 2025), Sal back to Amsterdam (three weekly; starts October 27; ranks first for distance), and Sharm el-Sheikh back to Edinburgh (weekly; begins November 10; announced in 2025). Two routes are tied for the fifth spot. With a block time of up to six hours and 20 minutes, they are Hurghada back to Liverpool (two to three weekly) and Manchester (five weekly to daily).
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Here Are The Sixth To Tenth-Longest Flights
Two routes are tied in sixth place. At up to six hours and 15 minutes, there’s Sharm el-Sheikh back to Newcastle (twice-weekly; begins on August 3; announced last summer as part of the base reopening) and Milan Malpensa to Sal (two to three weekly). Three links rank joint-seventh. At up to six hours and 10 minutes, they are Hurghada back to Bristol (two to five weekly), Gatwick to Sal (three weekly), Sharm back to Manchester (four to six weekly).
In eighth place are six routes, all timed at up to six hours and five minutes: Sal back to Manchester (three weekly); Hurghada back to Birmingham (twice-weekly) and Luton (four weekly to daily); and Sharm back to Bristol (two to three weekly), Liverpool (two to three weekly), and Luton (four weekly to daily). At up to six hours and ranking joint-ninth are Hurghada back to Gatwick (five to 12 weekly) and Sharm back to Birmingham (two to three weekly).
Finally, there’s the tenth spot. And, you’ve guessed it, two routes occupy that position. At up to five hours and 55 minutes are Bristol to Sal (two to three weekly; starts on May 1) and Sharm back to Gatwick (five to nine weekly). easyJet is now the largest operator between the UK and Sharm (and Hurghada). Before the attack 11 years ago, Sharm was always much more popular for the British than Hurghada. Between 2009 and 2011, British Airways even flew the Boeing 777-200ER there from Gatwick.
