Cruise passengers travelling from northern England to Southampton will soon have another option for reaching their ship, as easyJet prepares to launch a new direct flight between Manchester and the UK’s busiest cruise port city.
The budget airline will begin operating the route on 4th December 2026, with flights scheduled twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
The Friday service could be particularly useful for cruise passengers departing Southampton on a Saturday, allowing them to fly south the day before their sailing and spend a night in a local hotel.
Saturday is one of the busiest days for cruise departures from Southampton, with cruise lines including P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Cunard regularly operating weekend sailings.
With flight times of approximately one hour and fares starting from £33.99 on the launch date, the new service could offer a convenient alternative to lengthy road or rail journeys for passengers living in Manchester and surrounding parts of northern England.
The new connection also restores a direct air link between the two cities following the withdrawal of regional airline Loganair’s Southampton to Manchester service in August.
A New Way For Cruise Passengers To Reach Southampton
Southampton is the UK’s leading cruise departure port, welcoming millions of passengers travelling on cruises to destinations including the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and Caribbean.
However, reaching the port can involve a lengthy journey for passengers living in the north of England or in Scotland, particularly those who prefer not to drive or leave their car in Southampton for the duration of their holiday.
A direct flight from Manchester could make the journey more manageable, especially for travellers who live close to Manchester Airport or can reach it easily from other parts of the north.
The timing of the Friday flights is potentially the biggest advantage for cruisers.
Many seven-night and 14-night cruises depart Southampton on Saturdays, meaning passengers could fly down on Friday, stay overnight and make the short onward journey to their cruise terminal the following morning.
Arriving the day before a cruise also provides some protection against travel disruption, reducing the risk of missing a ship because of delays on the morning of departure.
Southampton Airport is located outside the city centre, so passengers would still need to arrange transport to their hotel or cruise terminal. The port has five main cruise terminals spread across its Eastern and Western Docks.
The Monday flights could also prove useful for passengers joining or returning from cruises operating outside the traditional weekend departure schedule, although the limited frequency means the service will not suit every itinerary.
Aviation expert Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, specifically identified cruise passengers as a potential market for the service.
He told Metro: ‘Its most credible users will be people living close to either airport, northern passengers travelling to Southampton’s cruise terminal, weekend travellers, and passengers positioning themselves for an onward flight from Manchester.
‘EasyJet is effectively replacing the Southampton-Manchester connection that Loganair withdrew in August.
‘Loganair used smaller regional aircraft and offered a much more frequent service, while EasyJet will concentrate demand into two weekly flights operated by a considerably larger Airbus.
‘That suggests easyJet is targeting weekend, cruise and leisure demand rather than recreating a business shuttle.’
The route is one of easyJet’s shortest non-island services, covering approximately 170 miles in a straight line.
It follows other additions to the airline’s network, including recently announced flights to Pristina, Kosovo, and a domestic connection between Bristol and Glasgow.
How Does Flying Compare With Taking The Train?
Although the flight itself takes approximately one hour, cruise passengers will need to account for airport check-in, security, baggage collection and transfers at both ends.
Travelling by train remains an alternative, particularly for passengers who would otherwise need to make a substantial journey to Manchester Airport.
Rail journeys between Manchester and Southampton can take around four hours and 16 minutes, while driving between the two cities typically takes approximately three hours and 50 minutes, depending on traffic.
Coach travel is another option, with FlixBus journeys taking around seven hours and 25 minutes.
At the time the route was announced, easyJet was advertising fares of £33.99 for the inaugural Manchester to Southampton flight on 4th December, compared with example rail fares of £34.50 and coach tickets costing £36.98.
However, those prices do not represent the full cost of each journey.
Passengers flying with easyJet may need to pay extra for larger cabin bags or checked luggage, an important consideration for cruisers carrying suitcases for a week or more at sea.
Airport transfers and an overnight hotel stay could also increase the overall cost, although passengers travelling by train or car may choose to arrive the day before their cruise as well.
Radchenko cautioned against assuming that flying would automatically be faster.
‘A passenger travelling between the two city centres must add the journey to the airport, security, boarding, possible baggage collection and the transfer at the other end.
‘For some passengers, the flight will still save meaningful time; for others, the direct train may be almost as quick door to door and provides several hours in which they can work or relax.’
For cruise passengers, the best option is therefore likely to depend on where they live, the day their ship departs and how much luggage they are taking.
Environmental Concerns Over Short Domestic Flights
Despite the potential benefits for cruise travellers, the new route has attracted criticism from environmental campaigners who question the need for flights between two cities already connected by rail.
Aviation accounts for approximately 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and short flights can be particularly emissions-intensive because take-off and climbing consume a significant proportion of the fuel used during a relatively brief journey.
Environmental campaign group Stay Grounded has called for flights of this nature to be banned.
Speaking to Metro, spokesperson Hannah Lawrence said: ‘Easyjet’s decision to open this new flight route makes a mockery of the fact that we’ve just lived through the hottest summer on record, suffering droughts, wildfires, and thousands of excess deaths.
‘This is just further evidence that the aviation industry can’t be trusted to reduce their own emissions.’
Lawrence pointed to France, where restrictions on certain domestic flights were introduced in 2023 when suitable rail alternatives of two and a half hours or less are available.
However, the Manchester to Southampton journey is substantially longer by train, meaning it would not meet that particular threshold.
Radchenko also suggested that passengers should have access to more detailed environmental information when comparing transport options.
‘The fairest approach would be for easyJet to publish a route-specific, per-passenger emissions estimate based on the aircraft actually used and realistic occupancy, alongside a comparable rail figure, so travellers can judge the time saving against the environmental cost.’
EasyJet defended the decision to introduce the new service, highlighting the loss of the previous Loganair connection and the importance of domestic air links.
A spokesperson told Metro: ‘We only operate domestic flights where there is no direct train journey of less than three hours and where air travel provides important connectivity.
‘Following the closure of Loganair’s Southampton base the route will offer alternative options for their customers where the alternative indirect train journey takes over 4 hours 30 minutes.
‘While we will always consider the environmental impact of flying, domestic flights remain an important part of the UK’s transport network, connecting people for leisure and business while providing jobs and opportunities across the country.’
For cruise passengers based in northern England, the new route adds another travel option when planning their next holiday from Southampton.
While the twice-weekly schedule will limit its usefulness for some sailings, the Friday departure could appeal to holidaymakers looking to arrive near the port ahead of a Saturday embarkation.
The service is scheduled to begin on 4th December 2026, with tickets available through easyJet’s website.
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