Key Points
- New Destinations: easyJet has officially launched two new routes from Bristol Airport to Burgas, Bulgaria, and Montpellier, France, for the summer 2027 season.
- Burgas Flight Schedule: Services to Burgas on the Black Sea coast will commence on 28 May 2027, running twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays, with one-way fares starting from £53.48.
- Montpellier Flight Schedule: Services to Montpellier in southern France will launch on 1 July 2027, operating twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, with one-way fares starting from £51.48.
- Route Exclusivity: easyJet will serve as the sole carrier offering a direct flight between Bristol and Montpellier.
- Broader Network Expansion: These additions form part of a wider 18-route summer 2027 rollout across easyJet’s network, lifting the airline’s overall Bristol offering to 93 routes, which also includes upcoming winter flights to Budapest and Strasbourg.
- Holiday Packages: Fully inclusive package holidays combining flights and hotel accommodations are available for both destinations via easyJet holidays.
Bristol (Bristol Express News) October 6, 2026 – As reported by media coverage on the airline’s latest network deployment, low-cost carrier easyJet has placed two new international services from Bristol Airport on sale for the summer 2027 season. The expansion introduces direct flights to Burgas, located on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, alongside a new connection to Montpellier in southern France. The additions form part of a broader network rollout comprising 18 new routes across the airline’s European base operations.
The route to Burgas is scheduled to begin operations on 28 May 2027. Flights will operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, with single fares starting at £53.48 per person, including applicable taxes. The Montpellier service will commence shortly after on 1 July 2027, running twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, with fares starting from £51.48 per person including taxes. With this addition, easyJet becomes the only airline offering direct non-stop flights connecting Bristol with Montpellier.
Both routes are accompanied by combined flight-and-hotel options through easyJet holidays. The expanded summer schedule builds directly upon easyJet’s upcoming winter timetable, which introduces direct services and package deals from Bristol to both Budapest and Strasbourg. With these additions, the carrier’s total network capacity out of Bristol Airport reaches 93 routes.
How Have Airline and Airport Executives Reacted to the Announcement?
Addressing the operational expansion, Kevin Doyle, UK Country Manager at easyJet, stated that
“18 new routes for summer 2027 is fantastic news with two more from Bristol Airport showing our commitment to providing customers in the South West with more choice from their local airport.”
Representing the regional hub, Rupert Lawrie, Commercial Director at Bristol Airport, stated that
“easyJet’s announcement of its new routes to Montpellier in France, and Burgas in Bulgaria, for summer 2027 is great news for customers across the South West and Wales, further strengthening Bristol Airport’s international network.”
Expanding on the economic and logistical impact of the French route, Rupert Lawrie added that
“The twice-weekly service to Montpellier provides even greater choice for those travelling to France, while also creating more opportunities for business and tourism links between our regions.”
Background of This Particular Development
Bristol Airport serves as the principal international gateway for the South West of England and South Wales, accommodating millions of leisure and business passengers annually. Budget carriers, led prominently by easyJet, have progressively increased base aircraft and route density at the airport to meet rising regional demand for direct European connectivity without requiring travel through London hubs.
Burgas, situated on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, serves as a major gateway for low-cost leisure travel, offering access to popular seaside resorts such as Sunny Beach and Nessebar. Montpellier, positioned in the Occitanie region of southern France, offers a mix of urban commerce, higher education links, and access to the Mediterranean coast. By securing sole-carrier status on the Bristol–Montpellier city pair, easyJet captures exclusive direct point-to-point traffic between the South West of England and this region of France.
Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Passengers and the Local Region?
The introduction of these two routes is expected to impact travellers across the South West of England and Wales, as well as the regional aviation ecosystem, in several key ways:
Lower Travel Costs and Direct Convenience
Passengers seeking affordable leisure travel to the Black Sea or southern France will benefit from lower initial fare points (starting around £51 to £53) and the elimination of indirect connecting flights or travel to distant London airports. The exclusive non-stop connection to Montpellier gives regional travelers direct access to southern France that was previously unavailable from Bristol.
Inbound Tourism and Business Opportunities
Direct point-to-point connections work symmetrically. The twice-weekly frequency to Montpellier is likely to encourage inbound visits from French tourists and business professionals into Bristol, Bath, and the broader South West economy.
Heightened Competition at Regional Hubs
With easyJet expanding its Bristol footprint to 93 destinations, local competition among low-cost carriers at regional airports will intensify. This continued capacity growth encourages competitive pricing across popular European summer leisure corridors.
