DESTINATIONS NEW ROUTES | SPAIN & PORTUGAL 3 Manchester La Palma
First-timers to the Canaries often head to Tenerife or Gran Canaria. However, La Palma is a sleepier side of the volcanic archipelago – and
Jet2.com will soon be serving it year-round from Manchester, with Jet2holidays adding a small range of hotels. Celebrated for its dramatic landscapes and dark-sand beaches, the entire island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Almost 600 miles of hiking routes afford the chance to wander past waterfalls or through laurel forests, or take on a challenging hike through the cliffs of the caldera. Coastal Santa Cruz de la Palma,
the compact, colourful capital, is also blessed with pretty 16th-century mansions. Book it: Flights depart on Mondays and Fridays from April 3, with one-way fares from £48.
jet2.com
Edinburgh Bilbao
Vueling takes off from Edinburgh to Bilbao next month. This industrial port city – the largest city in the Basque Country – was put firmly on the tourist map in 1997 when the shimmering Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum (pictured) opened. The river Nervión runs through the heart of the city and can be crossed via walkways and footbridges, while the compact but atmospheric Old Town is lined with buzzy bars and restaurants for sampling pintxos. For finer food, Bilbao is home
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to 12 Michelin-starred restaurants. Book it: Vueling will fly from Edinburgh to Bilbao on Wednesdays and Fridays from March 28, with one-way fares leading in at £47.
vueling.com
5 Stansted Jerez
Jet2.com will launch flights from Stansted to the Andalusian city of Jerez on May 1. The exclusive seasonal route to the birthplace of sherry departs on Tuesdays and Fridays – ideal for a long weekend. Clients can flit between historic bodegas or combine a tour and tasting with a tapas trawl through the medieval quarter. Alternatively, they can see elegant stallions dance at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art or visit the horse fair in the first week of May. Jet2holidays also uses Jerez as a gateway for stays in Seville (an hour’s
drive away) and resorts on the Costa de la Luz. Book it: One-way fares start at £60.
jet2.com
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Southend Ibiza
Fans of the White Isle will dance for joy with the spring launch of an easyJet route from Southend to Ibiza. From blissful Balearic beaches to superclubs that host the world’s best DJs, there’s no better place for watching sunsets or sipping cocktails. Beyond the beaches, there’s the cobblestoned old town – a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1999 – with 16th-century ramparts topped by a hilltop cathedral. The pine-scented hills and white villages in the north are worth visiting, as are the island’s revamped rural farmhouses, many of which host wellness retreats and offer delicious
local food and wine. Book it: Flights from Southend will depart on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April 29, with fares starting at £35.99.
easyjet.com
travelweekly.co.uk
26 FEBRUARY 2026
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