Europe Unlocked Research
July was the dearest month to fly from the UK in our 2026 fare tracking and November one of the cheapest. Easter cost about 60% more than the weeks around it.
Written By Rick Blyth
Happiest at 36,000ft as the sun rises above the clouds
5 min read
Published on 11th November 2026
Of the months we covered, July was the dearest month to fly from the UK and November one of the cheapest. Fares were highest in the school holidays, especially Easter, at about 60% more than the weeks either side.
Here's every month we tracked, then every school holiday, with Ryanair and easyJet side by side.
Easter flights cost about 60% more than the weeks either side.
England airports, 2026
Ryanair fares were cheapest 4 to 8 weeks before departure, typically just under £38 one way.
33,973 flights, March to November 2026
Tuesday was the cheapest day to fly out and Wednesday the cheapest to fly home, both about a fifth below average. Friday out and Sunday home cost the most.
Ryanair and easyJet, booked 6 to 8 weeks ahead
| Month | Ryanair | easyJet |
|---|---|---|
| March | -18% (£33) | -8% (£63) |
| April | -27% (£29) | -14% (£63) |
| May | -4% (£42) | +16% (£91) |
| June | -14% (£37) | +2% (£82) |
| July | +31% (£55) | +27% (£100) |
| August | +5% (£44) | +10% (£86) |
| September | -12% (£35) | -8% (£73) |
| October | -17% (£32) | -17% (£61) |
| November | -25% (£30) | -34% (£39) |
Against the average month on the same routes, with the typical one-way fare in brackets. Flights leaving March to November 2026. We don't have January, February or December.
July was the dearest month for both airlines: 31% above the average month with Ryanair and 27% with easyJet. August was dearer than average too, but not by as much.
At the cheap end, November was 25% below average with Ryanair and 34% below with easyJet, easyJet's cheapest month by a distance. For Ryanair, April was the cheapest, at 27% below, with November close behind. October was 17% below average for both.
The months only tell half the story. The school holidays are where fares jumped most: flying out at Easter cost about 60% more than the weeks either side, May half term about 35% more and the summer holidays about 15% more. October half term cost about the same going out, but about 85% more coming home.
We've looked at every holiday day by day, flying out and flying home, in are flights more expensive in school holidays?
February half term isn't in our data, as our tracking began in mid January. If that's when you can go, our February half term city breaks are every trip that fits inside it.
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We don't have December's fares in this comparison, so we can't say how a Christmas market trip compares.
The month is only one part of it. In our 2026 tracking, three things together made the biggest difference:
✈️ How far ahead you book. Ryanair fares were cheapest 4 to 8 weeks before departure, typically just under £38 one way, and easyJet's 6 to 12 weeks out. See the best time to book flights to Europe.
✈️ The day you fly. Tuesday was the cheapest day to fly out and Wednesday the cheapest to fly home. See the cheapest day to fly to Europe.
✈️ Avoiding the school holidays. Especially Easter and May half term. And booking summer holiday flights months early didn't pay off either: see the best time to book summer holiday flights.
The day you book makes almost no difference, so there's no need to wait for a particular day: see what days are cheaper to book flights.
📌 Key points
- Of the months we covered, July was the dearest month to fly from the UK and November one of the cheapest.
- For Ryanair, April was the cheapest month we tracked. For easyJet, November.
- Easter had the biggest jump going out over the weeks around it, about 60% more.
- May half term cost about 35% more and the summer holidays about 15% more. October half term cost about the same going out, but about 85% more coming home.
- We don't have January, February or December, so this isn't the cheapest month of the whole year.
Of the months we tracked in 2026, March to November, November was one of the cheapest for both Ryanair and easyJet. For Ryanair, April was the cheapest, 27% below the average month. We don't have January, February or December.
Outside the school holidays, booked a few weeks ahead, and midweek. In our 2026 tracking, Ryanair was cheapest 4 to 8 weeks before departure, Tuesday was the cheapest day to fly out, and Easter flights cost about 60% more than the weeks either side.
July, of the months we covered. Flights out of the UK in July were 31% above the average month with Ryanair and 27% above with easyJet.
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We've done the searching, so you don't have to. Find city breaks from your airport, with lots under £100, in whichever month suits you.
