EasyJet Announces New Longest Route from London to Luxor
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Starting November, easyJet will introduce a new route from London Gatwick to Luxor, Egypt, marking the airline's return to Luxor after an 11-year hiatus. This new service will be the longest route by distance for easyJet from London, surpassing all routes operated by competitors Ryanair and Wizz Air from the UK capital.
The Gatwick-Luxor route will operate twice weekly, beginning on November 11, covering 2,144 nautical miles (3,971 km) each way. The route will be served by the fuel-efficient A320neo, which will replace the A320ceo previously used between 2009 and 2013.
In addition to easyJet, TUI Airways and EgyptAir also operate weekly flights from Gatwick and Heathrow to Luxor, respectively. With this new addition, easyJet aims to leverage easyJet Holidays to drive ticket sales and attract travelers.
Until this announcement, the Luton-Hurghada route was the longest for easyJet from London, but Gatwick-Luxor surpasses it by a mere nine nautical miles. Despite this minimal difference, the new route highlights easyJet's strategy to expand its long-haul offerings from the UK.
The return journey from Luxor to Gatwick, facing headwinds, has a block time of up to 5 hours and 55 minutes, slightly shorter than the Hurghada-Luton route. However, neither route is long enough to rank among the world's longest narrowbody services.
As of July 18, Luxor is the ninth airport added to easyJet’s portfolio for 2024. The list includes new destinations and airports that the airline has served in the past but were not part of the 2023 schedule.
EasyJet's new route to Luxor is expected to cater to a diverse range of travelers, including those seeking historical and cultural experiences in Egypt. The Valley of the Kings and other ancient sites in Luxor offer a rich travel experience, likely to attract both family travelers and seasoned tourists.