EasyJet's twice-weekly Sharm El Sheikh service, launching 25 October, will see it become the only airline to service the Egyptian resort from Belfast International. The carrier will also be the only airline to operate a regular service between Belfast International and Rome this winter, with that route launching a day later.

The Belfast expansion is part of a wider expansion of easyJet's winter schedule, which spans beach and city breaks across Europe and North Africa, with new services also introduced from Birmingham, London Luton, London Southend, Newcastle and Southampton.

The Sharm route will operate twice-a-week on Wednesdays and Sundays, with fares leading in from £118.99 one-way. Belfast's twice-weekly Rome route will operate on Mondays and Fridays.

Elsewhere, easyJet will become the only carrier to link Southend with Budapest and the sole operator connecting Luton with Ljubljana. Both routes launch on 26 October, adding two new city break options to the airline’s winter programme.

At Newcastle, easyJet is continuing to build out its recently launched base with three more routes – Fuerteventura, Krakow and Reykjavik. Birmingham, meanwhile, gains a new Agadir service as Morocco grows in popularity with UK holidaymakers.

Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK country manager, said the launches would provide "even more choice and connectivity" for customers seeking winter sun and city breaks, while further broadening the airline’s UK network.

"Whether they’re looking for winter sun, or a weekend away in some of Europe’s most iconic capitals, this new batch of routes further expands the range of exciting destinations available for our customers to choose from at affordable prices," he added.