Ryanair is expanding its flight network from the United Kingdom with seven new international routes. The low-cost carrier announced additions for the upcoming winter season and the summer of 2027, focusing on airports in Liverpool and Leeds Bradford. These changes come as the airline continues to grow its presence in the UK, where it currently ranks as the third-largest carrier by departures behind easyJet and British Airways.
Liverpool Winter Expansion
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) will see significant service increases starting October 26. Ryanair is launching twice-weekly flights to Gdańsk International Airport (GDN) and Copenhagen Airport (CPH). These services will operate every Monday and Friday. The airline is also adding three weekly flights to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). This Warsaw service replaces a previous route to Warsaw Modlin Airport.
These new connections are part of a broader operational expansion at Liverpool. Last month, the airline announced it would base a sixth aircraft at the airport for the winter season. This move is expected to deliver 100,000 additional seats and represent an 11% growth in capacity. During the winter, Ryanair will operate more than 2,500 flights from Liverpool, with approximately 24 to 25 daily departures on peak days.
The new Gdańsk route fills a gap left after Wizz Air stopped serving the city earlier this year. The airline also replaced its Luton to Venice Treviso Airport service, which ended on October 21, 2026.
Leeds Bradford Summer 2027 Additions
Looking ahead to summer 2027, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) will add four new routes. Ryanair will begin services to Tirana, Bari, Budapest, and Corfu. The Corfu route will face direct competition from Jet2, which already has a strong seasonal presence in the market. Bari offers a new nonstop connection to southern Italy from Leeds, although passengers can reach the region indirectly via Manchester Airport.
These additions coincide with easyJet’s planned withdrawal from Leeds Bradford next year. Starting January 5, easyJet will end services on five routes: Belfast, Barcelona El Prat, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Ryanair and Jet2 are moving to capture this demand. Ryanair has already announced $40.11 rescue fares for affected passengers, particularly for Málaga, where it operates 10 weekly flights. These promotional fares are available for booking until the end of February.
Despite easyJet’s exit, Leeds will retain nonstop connectivity to several key destinations. Jet2 will continue serving Barcelona, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Málaga, and Palma. Ryanair also maintains flights to Málaga and Palma.
UK Network Growth and Investment
The UK remains one of Ryanair’s busiest international markets. In April, the airline projected it would carry 61 million passengers in the UK in 2026. For the winter season, the country is its second-busiest international market, with roughly 2,795 weekly departures in a typical midweek period in November.
Ryanair is making several other changes to its UK operations this winter. Manchester Airport (MAN) is receiving a 19th-based aircraft, adding 50,000 extra winter seats. At Birmingham Airport (BHX), a ninth-based aircraft is part of a $900 million investment. This support will enable five new destinations, including Copenhagen and Marrakesh. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is also growing, with its winter network up 11%.
London Stansted Airport (STN) remains Ryanair’s busiest airport in the UK and across its entire network. It will handle roughly 1,224 weekly departures during the peak winter period. The airline is also launching new winter services from Stansted to Glasgow, Malmö in Sweden, and Parma in Italy.
Source: Simple Flying
