easyJet launches first-ever direct route between UK city and Spanish hotspot

In a major win for Brits, easyJet now connects Liverpool with a major Spanish holiday hotspot thanks to a highly anticipated new service. Wannabe holidaymakers in the North West of England will now be able to fly directly to Andalusia's southeast coast in just under three hours, offering a whole new range of tourism and winter-sun opportunities.

The first flight bound for Almeria - boasting beautiful beaches and fewer crowds than other Spanish hotspots- departed on Tuesday (October 28) and will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This gives passengers a direct alternative to longer journeys via Malaga, Madrid or Barcelona.

Until now, Almeria has been reliant on flights from London, Manchester or Birmingham, and local tourism officials have welcomed the move. The new service is part of the budget airline's winter expansion, which has introduced several new Mediterranean destinations aimed at improving connectivity from regional UK airports.

Almería is renowned for its stunning, often unspoiled beaches, particularly those located in the nearby Cabo de Gata Natural Park. It also enjoys an impressive 320 days of sunshine a year, making it a very attractive winter-sun destination. Almerica city also boasts a fascinating history, dating back to the Moors who founded it in the 10th century, with the Alcazaba fortress a key historical landmark.

The region boasts a unique landscape that includes Europe's only desert, the Tabernas Desert, a popular backdrop for films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Lawrence of Arabia. The launch also carries a symbolic connection, as Liverpool John Lennon Airport now directly links to the city where John Lennon stayed in 1966 while filming "How I Won the War" - and where he began writing the iconic Beatles track "Strawberry Fields Forever".

According to EuroWeekly News, local businesses along the Cabo de Gata-Nijar coast have already reported an increase in enquiries from British travellers since easyJet announced the service earlier this year.

Flights operate every Tuesday and Saturday, with fares starting from around €17 (£15) one way via easyJet's website.

This news comes as easyJet also announced new direct flights from Manchester to Strasbourg, the enchanting capital of France's Grand Est region, beginning in November, just in time for the "Capital of Christmas" to shine. Tickets for the new route are already on sale, starting from £48.99 one-way.

From November 28, the service will operate twice weekly on Fridays and Sundays. This is conveniently timed to coincide with the opening of Strasbourg's renowned Christkindelsmärik market, which will run from November 27 to December 27, filling the city's cobbled streets and historic squares with twinkling lights, wooden chalets, mulled wine, and hand-crafted gifts.