Gatwick Flights: Bargains and When to Book in 2026

The Short Answers for London Gatwick Airport ✈️

Book easyJet 6 to 14 weeks aheadThat's when its fares from London Gatwick were near their lowest. In the final days they rose 36%.

Book Wizz Air 6 to 10 weeks aheadThat's when its fares from London Gatwick were near their lowest. In the final days they rose 69%.

Months ahead cost more6 months out, against each airline's lowest: easyJet +17%, Wizz Air +29%, British Airways +10% and Vueling +50%.

Wizz Air: typically £45One way, when its fares were lowest. 29% were under £30.

From the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, March to November 2026. One-way fares per person, each flight against its own fare at its airline’s lowest point. “Near their lowest” means within 3 percentage points of it.

Good News from London Gatwick Airport 🎉

What we found when we searched for city breaks from London Gatwick Airport: return trips, flights only.

City break in EuropeLanzarote2 nights in December, from £28 returnMore cheap city breaksFuerteventura7 nights in December£28Tenerife3 nights in December£28Palma de Mallorca1 night in December£31Malta1 night in December£33

Two cities, one tripMilan and Lanzarote4 nights in December, from £46 returnMore multi-city tripsMalta and Palma de Mallorca3 nights in December£46Madrid and Marrakech4 nights in December£47Milan and Palma de Mallorca2 nights in December£47Lanzarote and Marrakech3 nights in December£47

City break in IrelandDublin6 nights in December, from £30 return

City break in the UKBelfast2 nights in December, from £56 return

Return trips, flights only, per person, from our trip search on 12th November 2026. Fares move, and you book each flight directly with the airline.

See every city break from London Gatwick →

When's the Best Time to Book Flights from London Gatwick Airport? 💡

easyJet: 6 to 14 weeks ahead. Wizz Air: 6 to 10 weeks ahead. British Airways: 1 to 14 weeks ahead. Norwegian: 20 to 26 weeks ahead. Vueling: 3 to 12 weeks ahead. TUI Airways fares were higher months ahead.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Airlines flying many routes from London Gatwick AirportHow much more fares were than at each airline's lowest point, from 6 months out to the day.

easyJet+36%
Wizz Air+69%
British Airways+5%
Norwegian+129%
TUI Airways0%
Vueling+56%

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Airlines flying many routes from London Gatwick AirportHow much more fares were than at each airline's lowest point, from 6 months out to the day.

easyJet+36%
Wizz Air+69%
British Airways+5%
Norwegian+129%
TUI Airways0%
Vueling+56%

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

Each airline from London Gatwick Airport followed its own pattern. Each figure is how much more fares typically were than at that airline's lowest point, flight by flight.

Norwegian: Fares were near their lowest 20 to 26 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 129% above that, more than twice each flight's own fare at the low.

Wizz Air: Fares were near their lowest 6 to 10 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 69% above that. Six months ahead, typically 29% above that.

Vueling: Fares were near their lowest 3 to 12 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 56% above that. Six months ahead, typically 50% above that.

easyJet: Fares were near their lowest 6 to 14 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 36% above that. Six months ahead, typically 17% above that.

British Airways: Fares were near their lowest 1 to 14 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 5% above that. Six months ahead, typically 10% above that.

TUI Airways: Fares were lowest close to departure, 4 days to 1 week out.

A fall here is what these flights did, not a reason to wait: it varied from flight to flight.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Airlines flying one route from London Gatwick AirportEach line is one airline on one route, against its own lowest point, so the figures are that route's.

Ryanair to Dublin+312%
Air France to Paris+131%

Each line is 0% where its airline's fares were typically lowest, ringed. Each point is the typical (median) difference between each flight's fare then and its own fare at that low, among the flights we tracked with a fare at both: 100 or more each, and not the same flights at every point. One-way fares for one person, without bags.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Airlines flying one route from London Gatwick AirportEach line is one airline on one route, against its own lowest point, so the figures are that route's.

Ryanair to Dublin+312%
Air France to Paris+131%

Each line is 0% where its airline's fares were typically lowest, ringed. Each point is the typical (median) difference between each flight's fare then and its own fare at that low, among the flights we tracked with a fare at both: 100 or more each, and not the same flights at every point. One-way fares for one person, without bags.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

Each line here is one airline on one route from London Gatwick Airport, so its figures are that route's. Each figure is how much more fares typically were than at that airline's lowest point, flight by flight.

Ryanair to Dublin: Fares were near their lowest 3 to 8 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 312% above that, more than four times each flight's own fare at the low. Six months ahead, typically 58% above that.

Air France to Paris: Fares were near their lowest 6 to 20 weeks out. In the final days they were typically 131% above that, more than twice each flight's own fare at the low. Six months ahead, typically 16% above that.

What Return Trips from London Gatwick Airport Cost, Day by Day 📈

We priced 56,073 return trips from London Gatwick Airport every day for the 12 weeks before they left: a flight out and the same airline’s flight home 2 to 7 days later.

In each chart, the thick line is the typical (median) trip each day and the shaded band is where the middle half of trips sat. The thin line is one real trip that stayed close to the typical one.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Ryanair to Dublin: return trips from London Gatwick Airport, priced every day for 12 weeksThe typical (median) price each day across 29,657 return trips, the middle half of them shaded, and one real trip.

£8812 weeks out£63lowest, 6 weeks out£251final days

A real trip: Dublin and back, 2 nights, out 30th June 2026

Return trips per person, flights only, without bags, on the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, flights out March to November 2026.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Ryanair to Dublin: return trips from London Gatwick Airport, priced every day for 12 weeksThe typical (median) price each day across 29,657 return trips, the middle half of them shaded, and one real trip.

£8812 weeks out£63lowest, 6 weeks out£251final days

A real trip: Dublin and back, 2 nights, out 30th June 2026

Return trips per person, flights only, without bags, on the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, flights out March to November 2026.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

The typical Ryanair to Dublin trip was £88 at 12 weeks out, lowest 6 weeks out (£63), then £251 in the final days.

96% of its 29,657 trips cost more at the end than at 12 weeks out. The thin line is Dublin and back, 2 nights, out 30th June 2026.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

easyJet: return trips from London Gatwick Airport, priced every day for 12 weeksThe typical (median) price each day across 26,294 return trips, the middle half of them shaded, and one real trip.

£13912 weeks out£135lowest, about 10 weeks out£218final days

A real trip: Porto and back, 2 nights, out 27th September 2026

Return trips per person, flights only, without bags, on the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, flights out March to November 2026.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

easyJet: return trips from London Gatwick Airport, priced every day for 12 weeksThe typical (median) price each day across 26,294 return trips, the middle half of them shaded, and one real trip.

£13912 weeks out£135lowest, about 10 weeks out£218final days

A real trip: Porto and back, 2 nights, out 27th September 2026

Return trips per person, flights only, without bags, on the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, flights out March to November 2026.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

The typical easyJet trip was £139 at 12 weeks out, lowest about 10 weeks out (£135), then £218 in the final days.

86% of its 26,294 trips cost more at the end than at 12 weeks out. The thin line is Porto and back, 2 nights, out 27th September 2026.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Jet2: return trips from London Gatwick Airport, priced every day for 12 weeksThe typical (median) price each day across 122 return trips, the middle half of them shaded, and one real trip.

£19212 weeks out£150lowest, about 4 weeks out£157final days

A real trip: Alicante and back, 6 nights, out 16th October 2026

Return trips per person, flights only, without bags, on the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, flights out March to November 2026.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Jet2: return trips from London Gatwick Airport, priced every day for 12 weeksThe typical (median) price each day across 122 return trips, the middle half of them shaded, and one real trip.

£19212 weeks out£150lowest, about 4 weeks out£157final days

A real trip: Alicante and back, 6 nights, out 16th October 2026

Return trips per person, flights only, without bags, on the flights we tracked from London Gatwick, flights out March to November 2026.

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

The typical Jet2 trip went the other way: £192 at 12 weeks out, lowest about 4 weeks out (£150) and £157 in the final days.

70% of its 122 trips cost less at the end. That's what these trips did, not a reason to wait: it varied from trip to trip. The thin line is Alicante and back, 6 nights, out 16th October 2026.

The same trips are counted every day: on a day one wasn’t priced, we use its price as last seen. A ring marks the typical line’s lowest day. A real trip is the one whose daily price stayed closest to the typical line, always under £300 and not to Dublin unless that's the airline's only route, and it's shown only where it stayed within 15% of the typical price.

How Much Are Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Europe? 💷

Return flights from London Gatwick to Europe started at £28, and 26 of the 100 destinations in Europe we found (return trips under £150) were under £50 return.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Return flights from London Gatwick to EuropeHow many of the 100 destinations in Europe (Ireland included) come in under each price, return. Each bar includes the cheaper ones.

Under £305 destinations
Under £5026 destinations
Under £10085 destinations
All of them100 destinations

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Return flights from London Gatwick to EuropeHow many of the 100 destinations in Europe (Ireland included) come in under each price, return. Each bar includes the cheaper ones.

Under £305 destinations
Under £5026 destinations
Under £10085 destinations
All of them100 destinations

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

The 10 cheapest countries to fly to from London Gatwick

AlbaniaTirana£46
Czech RepublicPrague£47
GibraltarGibraltar£47
FranceLyon£47

The lowest return price we found to each country, flights only, per person, from our trip search on 12th November 2026, for trips from November to April. Fares move, and you book each flight directly with the airline.

Which Month Is Cheapest to Fly from London Gatwick Airport? 📅

In the next 6 months, December is the cheapest month to fly from London Gatwick Airport in our trip search: across destinations, the typical cheapest return city break is £62, against £102 in April.

A typical city break from London Gatwick Airport, month by month, for the next 6 months

Nov 2026£77
Dec 2026✅Cheapest£62
Jan 2027£63
Feb 2027£65
Mar 2027£70
Apr 2027£102

The typical return price of a city break leaving in each month: for every destination, its cheapest return trip that month, flights only, per person, then the middle of those, so half the destinations cost less and half cost more (61 to 103 destinations a month). From our trip search on 12th November 2026, which looks about six months ahead; November counts trips leaving from the 13th.

How Long Are Flights from London Gatwick Airport? ⏱️

In our trip search (return trips under £150), 42 destinations from London Gatwick Airport are 2 hours or less by direct flight. The cheapest of them: Dublin, from £30 return.

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Destinations by flight time from London Gatwick AirportHow many of the 117 destinations we found are in each band of direct-flight time.

Up to 2 hours42 destinations
2 to 3 hours41 destinations
3 to 4 hours22 destinations
Over 4 hours12 destinations

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

2026 fare studyEuropeUnlocked

Destinations by flight time from London Gatwick AirportHow many of the 117 destinations we found are in each band of direct-flight time.

Up to 2 hours42 destinations
2 to 3 hours41 destinations
3 to 4 hours22 destinations
Over 4 hours12 destinations

EuropeUnlocked.co.uk

The cheapest destination in each flight-time band, from London Gatwick Airport

Scheduled direct-flight times, one way. Prices: the lowest return price we found to each destination, flights only, per person, from our trip search on 12th November 2026.

📬 Free · Every Sunday

The Best Trips from London Gatwick AirportEvery Sunday, Fresh in Your Inbox

Each email has the best-value trips from London Gatwick for the following two weeks, found and priced for you.

What lands in your inbox on Sunday

InboxExample

Rick from Europe UnlockedSundayYour best trips from London Gatwick for the following two weeksCheapest trips from London Gatwick for the following two weeks.

To: you

London Gatwick Airport Figures for Journalists 📋

Trips you can quote

Lanzarote: 2 nights in December for £28 return.
Marrakech, Morocco: 3 nights in December for £32 return.
Malta: 1 night in December for £33 return.

Flights only, per person, from our trip search, 12th November 2026. Fares move, and you book each flight directly with the airline.

Fare figures you can quote

easyJet fares from London Gatwick Airport rose 36% in the final days.Europe Unlocked 2026 fare study: 10,734 easyJet flights, March to November 2026, each against its own fare at the airline's lowest point.
A typical Ryanair to Dublin return from London Gatwick Airport: £63 at its lowest, £251 in the final days.Europe Unlocked 2026 fare study: 29,657 Ryanair to Dublin return trips, each priced every day for 12 weeks, flights out March to November 2026.
96% of Ryanair to Dublin return trips from London Gatwick Airport cost more in the final days than 12 weeks before.Europe Unlocked 2026 fare study: 29,657 Ryanair to Dublin return trips, flights out March to November 2026.
Ryanair fares from London Gatwick Airport more than quadrupled in the final days.Europe Unlocked 2026 fare study: 1,255 Ryanair flights, March to November 2026, each against its own fare at the airline's lowest point.

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Please credit Europe Unlocked with a link to this page. Figures describe the flights we tracked, not every flight.

About the London Gatwick Airport Research 🔍

What we tracked: 28,343 flights from London Gatwick Airport, departing 1 March to 7 November 2026, and 6,311,034 price checks on them: one-way base fares for one adult, without bags, on a sample of the flights we track.
How we compared: each flight against its own fare at its airline's lowest point, the stretch of weeks when that airline's fares were typically lowest (Ryanair to Dublin 6 to 8 weeks, easyJet 10 to 12 weeks and Wizz Air 8 to 10 weeks). Typically means the middle (median) of those changes, so each line on the charts starts from its airline's low. Each airline's window is where its fares stayed within 3 percentage points of that low.
Return trips: a flight out and the same airline's flight home 2 to 7 days later, their two fares added up for each of the 12 weeks before the flight out, from the flights we tracked; on a day one wasn't priced, its price as last seen. The typical line is the middle (median) of all of an airline's trips each day, the same trips every day, for airlines with 100 or more. The real trip is the one whose price stayed closest to it.
Our trip search: the good news, the destinations, the months and the flight times come from our trip search, which finds return trips whose flights totalled less than £150 per person, so every count of destinations is a count of those.
Airlines and airports: our fare tracking looks at one airline at a time and never compares airports. The good news and the comparison with other airports come from our trip search instead.

About these figures

The fare figures come from a sample of flights we track, using the systems we have access to: one-way fares for one adult, without bags, on flights departing 1 March to 7 November 2026. Each flight is compared with its own fare at its airline's lowest point, the stretch of weeks when that airline's fares were typically lowest, and “typically” means the middle (median) of those changes, not the change between two typical fares. Each comparison counts the flights with a fare at both times, so the flights can differ from one period to another. The figures describe the flights we tracked, not every flight, airline or route, and not the whole market.

This is research into what fares did in 2026, so you can see what happened. It isn’t a prediction or a guarantee: rising fuel and other airline costs, taxes and demand can all push fares up, and fares on other flights, routes and dates may move differently. Nothing here is a best date to book, and a fall we saw on these flights doesn’t mean waiting will save money.

Trip search prices are return trips whose flights totalled less than £150 per person, correct when we found them, so every count of destinations is a count of those. Fares change quickly, so check with the airline before you book.

Questions People Ask About Flights from London Gatwick Airport 💬

When Is the Best Time to Book Flights from London Gatwick Airport?

It depends on the airline. In our 2026 fare tracking, Ryanair fares from London Gatwick to Dublin were near their lowest 3 to 8 weeks out, and easyJet's 6 to 14 weeks out and Wizz Air's 6 to 10 weeks out. That's where each flight's fare typically stayed within 3 percentage points of its own fare at its airline's lowest point.

How Much Are Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Europe?

It depends on where and when you go. The prices from our trip search, with the day we searched, are near the top of this page: return trips whose flights totalled less than £150 per person.

Do Flights from London Gatwick Airport Get More Expensive Closer to the Date?

It depends on the airline. In our 2026 fare tracking, Ryanair fares to Dublin from London Gatwick in the final days were typically more than four times each flight's own fare at its lowest point (up 312%), though individual flights varied. The charts above show each airline.

Can I Use These Figures?

Yes, with a credit to Europe Unlocked and a link to this page. Journalists can also get the press pack.

We've done the searching, so you don't have to. Find city breaks from London Gatwick Airport.