Exeter Airport Growth Plan Targets New Routes

Exeter Airport has unveiled a strategy to grow passenger numbers by targeting underserved domestic and European routes.

The plan positions Exeter Airport as a more connected gateway for Southwest England, with airport leaders actively marketing route opportunities to carriers and travel partners. The focus is on restoring and launching services that link the region to key UK cities and short-haul European destinations.

Rather than promising specific airlines or flight numbers, the airport is emphasizing demand-led growth: identifying unserved and underserved routes where passenger demand and local economic benefit align. That means working with local councils, tourism bodies and business groups to present compelling cases to carriers and low-cost operators.

How Exeter Airport plans to grow routes

Actions in the toolkit include targeted route incentives, joint marketing campaigns, and support for airlines during startup periods. The airport intends to highlight seasonal leisure links as well as year-round business routes, aiming to balance tourism peaks with steady regional connectivity. By promoting both domestic and European markets, Exeter Airport hopes to attract new carriers and expand frequencies in the coming year.

Target market outreach that highlights demand for new services to/from Exeter Airport.
Commercial incentives and joint marketing to lower launch risk for airlines.
Partnerships with local government and tourism bodies to support route viability.

Airport management stresses that realistic, commercially sustainable routes are the priority. That means careful analysis of catchment-area demand, expected load factors, and route economics before any incentives are offered. For passengers, the upside could be more direct connections, fewer changes, and shorter travel times across the UK and nearby Europe.

While specific carriers and schedules weren’t announced, the strategy signals a clear intent: to make Exeter Airport a stronger regional hub that serves both leisure travellers and local businesses. Expect announcements about route trials or partnerships as airlines assess opportunities in the months ahead.