Representative ImageUK airports are set to operate over 28,000 flights to The Alps this ski season, offering nearly 5 million seats, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. This season sees a notable shift from traditional ski destinations like France, Switzerland, and Austria towards alternative locations in the Nordics, Northern Italy, and Eastern Europe.
March 2026 is projected to be the busiest month, with 6,249 flights scheduled, translating to over 1.1 million seats. The peak travel day is expected to be 14 February, the start of the February Half Term, with 336 flights and more than 62,000 seats available. Geneva, Zurich, and Munich remain the most popular airports for UK travellers heading to The Alps.
easyJet is anticipated to be the leading airline for these routes, followed by British Airways, Ryanair, and Swiss. Heathrow Airport will see the highest number of departures, with Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, and Luton following suit.
The data highlights a decrease in flights to Switzerland, France, and Austria, with reductions of 3.0%, 1.5%, and 5.0% respectively. Conversely, flights to less traditional ski destinations are on the rise. Slovenia sees a significant increase of 63.5%, whilst flights to Poland, Northern Italy, and Nordic ski resorts have risen by 6.3%, 9.3%, and 4.8% respectively.
This shift in travel patterns suggests a growing interest in exploring diverse ski destinations beyond the traditional Alpine resorts.
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