Every summer brings a familiar promise to travellers: longer evenings, warmer coastlines, and the pull of destinations where lunch stretches into late afternoon. Next year, that promise grows even brighter with new access to three of Europe’s most sought-after coastal escapes.
The announcement comes from BA Cityflyer, British Airways’ London-based subsidiary, which confirmed new seasonal routes to France, Italy and Spain for summer 2026. Travellers will soon be able to fly directly to Toulon Saint-Tropez, Olbia in Sardinia, and San Sebastián, expanding the carrier’s European network to nearly 30 leisure destinations.
The move strengthens British Airways’ summer portfolio, giving UK holidaymakers more choice across the Mediterranean, from the glamour of the French Riviera to the turquoise waters of northern Sardinia and the pintxo-packed streets of Spain’s Basque Coast. Ian Romanis, Managing Director of BA Cityflyer, said the airline is “excited to grow our network next year with three fantastic new routes,” describing them as strategic additions designed to appeal to travellers seeking convenience, sunshine and culinary culture.
Toulon Saint-Tropez will see flights depart from London City Airport twice weekly between 23 May and 1 September 2026. At just 30 miles from Saint-Tropez, the airport sits close to beach clubs, yacht-lined marinas and lavender-laced hill towns that have drawn writers and film stars for generations. London City’s short kerb-to-gate times also make weekend trips surprisingly feasible, reducing airport wait times while placing the Riviera within easy reach for travellers looking to trade afternoon meetings for Mediterranean sunsets.
In Italy, the airline will launch flights from London Stansted to Olbia, gateway to the Costa Smeralda, where translucent water meets pale granite coves and pastel-washed towns. Sardinia recorded 18.9 million overnight stays in 2024, a year-on-year rise of 38 per cent, underscoring the island’s growing draw among European travellers. BA Cityflyer’s twice-weekly flights will run from 23 May to 27 September 2026, complementing existing services from London City and Heathrow and taking total Olbia frequencies up to seven flights per week in peak summer.
The third route connects Glasgow with San Sebastián, operating twice weekly from 18 July to 8 September 2026. The Basque city, celebrated for its surf-friendly bays and Michelin-starred dining scene, already receives direct links from London City and Edinburgh. Glasgow’s addition taps into Scotland’s strong outbound leisure demand while offering travellers a short hop to one of Europe’s most celebrated food capitals. Known for its pintxos bars and romantic Belle Époque promenades, San Sebastián has long balanced beach culture with fine dining, a duality that makes it a high-appeal summer contender.
Across all three routes, BA Cityflyer will offer its Club Europe cabin with priority boarding, increased baggage allowance and meals served with full bar service. The airline notes that its expanding regional footprint is designed to give passengers more flexibility in how they travel, whether planning long holidays or short three-night escapes timed around coastal festivals, wine harvests or the first warm stretch of June.
What ties these destinations together is not only sunshine, but the type of sensory travel that has defined summer tourism for decades: sea-salt breezes, cliff road drives, bright markets, and long dinners where conversation runs late. Each city offers a different expression of Mediterranean culture — Saint-Tropez with its Riviera élan, Sardinia with its wild shorelines and emerald water, San Sebastián with its culinary swagger and Atlantic air.
BA Cityflyer’s expansion signals continued confidence in European leisure demand after years of fluctuating travel patterns. With easy transport links, frequent departures and airports positioned close to city centres, the new schedule offers travellers more ways to experience coastal Europe at a pace that suits them. Those considering a 2026 escape may find the decision easier now — whether it is gelato on a Sardinian jetty, the glow of a Saint-Tropez evening, or a boardwalk in San Sebastián where the tide rolls slow against the shore.
More information, fares and route details will be available through British Airways’ official channels as the 2026 season approaches.
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