Holidays from Exeter Airport give Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West of England a convenient and increasingly well-connected departure point for Mediterranean beach breaks, Canary Islands escapes and European city breaks. Exeter Airport (EXT), located just five miles north-east of Exeter city centre on the edge of the Exe Valley, is the South West’s principal airport for leisure travel. For the millions of residents across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, holidays from Exeter Airport save hours of travel to Gatwick, Heathrow or Bristol — offering a genuinely local alternative with a relaxed, stress-free passenger experience.
This guide covers everything you need to plan holidays from Exeter Airport — including the best sun destinations, airlines, terminal information, transport links and practical booking advice.
Holidays from Exeter Airport offer the South West’s most local and stress-free departure experience. The airport is compact, well-run and consistently praised by passengers for its short queues, easy parking and relaxed atmosphere. For residents of Devon and Cornwall in particular, the alternative to flying from Exeter is a two-to-three hour drive to Bristol or a lengthy journey to London — making holidays from Exeter Airport a genuinely compelling option even if the route network is smaller than at larger hubs.
The airport handles approximately one million passengers per year and has a focused route network covering the Mediterranean leisure destinations most in demand from South West travellers. Recent investment has improved both the terminal facilities and the overall passenger experience.
Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the most popular holidays from Exeter Airport, with direct seasonal services typically running from spring through autumn and winter charters to the most popular islands. The Canaries are the single most important leisure destination from Exeter — their year-round warmth and outstanding value all-inclusive hotels make them ideal for South West travellers seeking reliable sun without a long pre-flight journey. Tenerife South is the most-booked destination, offering everything from budget all-inclusive to boutique coastal hotels.
Alicante (for the Costa Blanca and Benidorm), Malaga (Costa del Sol) and Ibiza are served by direct charter flights from Exeter Airport in the summer season. Holidays from Exeter Airport to Spain represent the core of the leisure market — Alicante and Malaga in particular offer easy access to a huge range of resort hotels at all price points, with Benidorm accessible from Alicante in under an hour by bus.
Corfu, Crete, Kos and Rhodes feature on the Exeter summer schedule. Corfu is especially popular from the South West — its beautiful landscape, Ionian blue water and welcoming resort towns have made it a perennial favourite for families and couples alike. Crete is the best choice for those wanting to combine beach time with genuine cultural exploration; Rhodes offers a long season and well-developed resort infrastructure.
Scheduled services to Dublin, Cork, Jersey and Guernsey, as well as domestic routes to Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK cities, round out the Exeter timetable. These provide practical connecting options for passengers on holidays from Exeter Airport who need to reach destinations not served directly from the South West.
Jet2 and TUI are the primary charter holiday operators at Exeter Airport, between them covering the key Mediterranean and Canary Islands leisure destinations. Ryanair provides scheduled low-cost services to Spain, Ireland and mainland Europe. easyJet operates European leisure and city break routes seasonally. Eastern Airways and Loganair provide the domestic and near-European scheduled network, connecting Exeter to the UK and Ireland.
Exeter Airport does not have a direct rail connection. The nearest station is Exeter St David’s, approximately five miles away, and the Airport Flyer bus (operated by Stagecoach, route 56) provides connections between Exeter city centre and the airport in approximately 20 minutes, with services running regularly throughout the day and tailored to major flight schedules.
By road, Exeter Airport is accessed from the A30 dual carriageway — approximately five miles north-east of the city centre. Junction 29 of the M5 motorway is just four miles away, making the airport straightforward to reach from across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. On-site short-stay and long-stay car parks are available, with online pre-booking offering significant savings over walk-up rates. For longer holidays, off-airport car park operators near the terminal provide further cost savings.
Exeter Airport has a single terminal. Check-in and bag drop are on the ground level; security and the departures lounge are accessible via stairs or lift. The terminal is compact and manages efficiently — the average time from check-in to departures gate is notably shorter than at larger airports, which is one of the key advantages of holidays from Exeter Airport. Online check-in is available for all major carriers. The airport advises arriving at least two hours before departure.
The airside departures lounge at Exeter Airport offers a selection of food and drink options including a Wetherspoons pub, Costa Coffee, Burger King and other snack outlets. Retail includes WH Smith and a duty-free shop. The overall selection is smaller than at larger regional airports, but the quality is good and the relaxed atmosphere more than compensates for the more limited choice. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.
Families travelling on holidays from Exeter Airport benefit from baby-changing facilities and a generally relaxed, uncrowded environment that makes the pre-flight experience considerably less stressful than at larger hubs.
When booking holidays from Exeter Airport, look for operators holding ABTA membership or ATOL protection to protect your money. For last-minute deals and availability, check LastMinute.com.
| IATA Code | EXT |
|---|---|
| Location | Clyst Honiton, 5 miles north-east of Exeter city centre |
| Terminal | Single terminal |
| Best for | Canaries, Spain, Greece — relaxed regional departure for Devon and Cornwall |
| Bus from Exeter | Airport Flyer (route 56) — approx 20 mins from Exeter city centre |
| By road | A30 from Exeter; M5 J29 — 4 miles |
| Key airlines | Jet2, TUI, Ryanair, easyJet, Eastern Airways |
Tenerife is consistently the most popular Canary Island destination on holidays from Exeter Airport. Its year-round warmth, range of resort options from family-friendly to upmarket, and outstanding value all-inclusive hotels make it the top choice for South West travellers. Lanzarote is the second most popular — ideal for couples and those seeking a volcanic landscape, good beaches and a quieter resort scene than Tenerife’s busier south coast.
Exeter Airport is well-positioned for Cornwall residents considering holidays from Exeter Airport. From Truro, the drive is approximately 70 miles (around 1 hour 15 minutes via the A30); from Penzance, approximately 90 miles (around 1 hour 30 minutes). While the journey is not trivial, it is significantly shorter than driving to Bristol, Gatwick or Heathrow — making Exeter the most practical major departure airport for most of Cornwall.
Yes — Exeter Airport offers on-site short-stay and long-stay car parks within easy walking distance of the terminal. Pre-booking online is substantially cheaper than paying on the day, especially for longer holidays. Several off-airport car park operators near the terminal offer further savings for extended trips, with shuttle buses running to the terminal every few minutes.
Yes — direct seasonal charter flights to Corfu, Crete, Kos and Rhodes operate from Exeter Airport during the summer season, typically from May through October. Holidays from Exeter Airport to Greece are operated primarily by Jet2 and TUI. If your preferred Greek island is not served directly from Exeter in a given season, connections via other UK airports are possible, though for most South West travellers the direct option is the most practical.
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