easyJet has confirmed the launch of a new direct route between London Stansted Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, with flights scheduled to begin on 5 March 2026. The service will operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, throughout the summer season, with bookings now open.
The airline said the new connection is expected to attract both business and leisure travellers, particularly those commuting regularly between London and Paris. The decision strengthens Stansted’s role as a business-oriented departure point and expands easyJet’s presence on one of Europe’s most competitive short-haul corridors. This is reported by The WP Times, citing the original company announcement.
The route launch comes alongside stronger-than-expected annual financial results, underlining a widening divergence between easyJet’s airline operations and its rapidly expanding holidays division. For the financial year ending 30 September, the group reported a 9% increase in headline pre-tax profit to £665 million, up from £610 million a year earlier and above market expectations of approximately £650 million.
easyJet Holidays emerged as the principal growth driver. Annual earnings in the division rose 32% to £250 million, allowing the group to achieve its previous medium-term target ahead of schedule. In response, easyJet increased its profit ambition for the holidays arm to £450 million by the 2029–30 financial year, signalling a strategic shift towards vertically integrated leisure travel.
The airline business, however, faced a more complex trading environment. Headline profits from flight operations declined slightly to £415 million, compared with £420 million the previous year. The company attributed the pressure to slower route maturation, intensified competition, and the broader geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop, particularly affecting winter performance.
Against this backdrop, easyJet announced a moderation in capacity expansion. Planned seat capacity growth for the coming year has been reduced to around 7%, down from 9% in 2024–25, as the carrier prioritises productivity, aircraft utilisation and operational resilience ahead of the peak summer season.
The holidays segment continues to scale at pace. Customer numbers increased by around 20% to 3.1 million, while revenues rose 27%, supported by a 5% increase in average selling prices to £698. The group expects holiday customers to grow by a further 15% in the year ahead, with average prices forecast to rise in the high single digits.
Chief executive Kenton Jarvis said the group remains firmly on track to exceed its medium-term profitability goals. Since setting its targets in 2023, easyJet has delivered a 46% improvement in profit before tax, adding a further 9% this year. Jarvis reiterated confidence that the company will achieve its objective of generating more than £1 billion in annual pre-tax profit, supported by continued expansion in its holidays business and a more disciplined approach to airline growth.
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