EasyJet, widely recognized for its budget-friendly European holidays, has announced its longest-ever flight. Departing from Amsterdam, a popular destination among British travelers, the new route will fly to the sun-drenched island of Sal in Cape Verde, starting in October 2026. The flight duration is approximately seven hours and 20 minutes, making it the longest in easyJet's current schedule, according to Simple Flying.
Flight Details and Pricing
According to the easyJet website, flights from Amsterdam to Sal, located off the coast of West Africa, are available for booking from October 27. At the time of writing, round-trip tickets departing on the launch date and returning on November 3 are priced at £124. More affordable options are available between November 17 and 24, with return fares at £120. The same rate applies for travel between December 1 and December 8, offering a pre-Christmas escape to warmer climates.
Previous Longest Route
Previously, easyJet's longest route was from London Gatwick to Sal, announced last year. That flight takes approximately six hours and covers 2,346 nautical miles. The new Amsterdam-Sal route surpasses it, spanning about 2,503 miles with a slightly longer flight time. Cape Verde was also easyJet's first destination in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Additional New Routes
EasyJet has introduced several other new routes for winter 2026/2027. Belfast International will gain flights to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt and Rome Fiumicino. Birmingham will now connect to Agadir–Al Massira Airport in Morocco. The inaugural Belfast-Sharm El-Sheikh flight departs on October 25, with return tickets on October 28 currently priced at £543.79 total.
Other new routes include:
- Bordeaux: Agadir, Málaga, and Gran Canaria
- London Luton: Ljubljana
- London Southend: Budapest
- Nantes: Brussels and Essaouira
- Newcastle: Fuerteventura, Kraków, and Reykjavík
- Nice: Giza
- Paris Charles De Gaulle: Southampton
Broader Budget Travel Context
In related budget travel news, Ryanair announced last week that check-in and bag drop services will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, effective November 10, 2026. Previously, passengers had up to 40 minutes. The new one-hour rule applies across all Ryanair-served airports.
Impact of Fuel Prices
Meanwhile, airlines worldwide are cutting routes and introducing extra charges due to soaring fuel prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran since February, handles about 20% of the global oil supply. Jet fuel costs have surged from $85–$90 per barrel to $150–$200. On April 16, the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, warned that Europe has 'maybe six weeks or so of jet fuel left,' anticipating cancellations into the summer months.
