EasyJet Is Adding New Direct Flights From Birmingham to Italy and Montenegro as More Summer Escapes Are on the Map

Image generated with Ai

Two new Direct Flights will give travellers in the English Midlands more ways to reach Italy and Montenegro in summer 2027. Birmingham–Milan Malpensa flights are scheduled to begin on 29 March, followed by Birmingham–Tivat flights on 3 May. Both routes are on sale, along with flight and hotel packages. The announcement confirms more travel choice, but it does not establish how many additional visitors either destination will receive.

The routes also involve two different sets of entry rules. British passport holders can make short visa-free visits to both countries, but Italy falls within the Schengen area and Montenegro applies a separate stay allowance. Passengers should check those rules, their passport dates and the flight timetable before booking. The information below reflects official announcements and guidance available on 25 September 2026.

What Has Changed for Birmingham Travellers

Milan Malpensa flights are scheduled for Mondays and Fridays from 29 March 2027. Tivat flights are scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays from 3 May 2027. These Direct Flights give passengers two planned departure days a week on each route. Milan Malpensa serves northern Italy, while Tivat provides an arrival point on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. Travellers will still need to arrange any journey beyond the destination airport.

The two Birmingham services form part of an announcement covering 18 new UK routes for summer 2027. That figure applies to the wider UK programme, not to Birmingham alone. The airport says packages combining flights and hotels are available for both destinations. It lists 23kg of luggage in those packages and transfers for Tivat beach breaks. Anyone considering a package should check the terms of the itinerary they select.

The Travel Context Behind the New Routes

The Birmingham additions follow earlier expansion of the airport’s European network, including a Rome service launched in 2026. They give Midlands residents another Italian arrival point and a route into coastal Montenegro. The announcement describes Milan as suitable for city breaks and business trips, while Tivat offers access to the Bay of Kotor area. Those descriptions explain possible uses for the routes; they are not evidence of future demand.

For local tourism businesses, new Direct Flights create an opportunity to receive visitors. Hotels, restaurants, transport providers and attractions may benefit if passengers choose to spend time in their areas. The size of any benefit remains unknown. The announcement gives no forecast for passenger numbers, overnight stays or visitor spending in either destination. It also provides no evidence that travellers will switch from another airport or route.

What Official Tourism Data Shows

The latest full-year figures provide context for the destinations, provided they are kept separate from the new flights. Eurostat recorded 476.9 million nights in Italian tourist accommodation during 2025. Across the European Union, accommodation nights reached nearly 3.1 billion, an increase of 2.2% from 2024. Montenegro’s statistical office recorded 2,728,564 tourist arrivals and 15,367,166 overnight stays in 2025; foreign visitors accounted for 95.8% of those stays.

These are destination-wide statistics, not results for Birmingham passengers. They cannot show how many people will book the new Direct Flights, where those passengers will stay or how much they will spend. The figures also measure different things: an arrival counts a tourist, while an overnight stay counts a night spent in accommodation. Evidence of any tourism increase attributable to these routes would have to come after services begin.

Passport and Visa Rules Remain Separate

The new Direct Flights do not change entry rules. British passport holders visiting Italy as tourists can generally travel without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Previous visits to other Schengen countries count towards that limit. Montenegro also permits British passport holders to visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but it is outside Schengen. Time in Montenegro does not use the Schengen allowance, and time in Schengen does not use Montenegro’s allowance.

For both destinations, UK guidance says a passport must have been issued less than 10 years before entry and must expire at least three months after the planned departure. Other arrival procedures differ. Short-stay visitors entering Italy may need to provide a photograph and fingerprints under the Schengen Entry/Exit System; border registration has no fee. Visitors to Montenegro must register with the local tourism office or police within 24 hours. Hotels and some holiday lets arrange registration, but people in private accommodation should ensure it is completed. Travellers using other passports must check the rules for their nationality.

Practical Checks Before Booking

The operating days matter when planning the length of a trip. A Monday outbound flight and Friday return, for example, allow a different stay from a Monday-to-Monday booking. Passengers considering either of the Direct Flights should verify availability on their chosen dates and check onward transport from Milan Malpensa or Tivat. They should also compare package inclusions with separate bookings. The announcement does not provide a fixed fare or guarantee a particular hotel, transfer or travel date for every passenger.

Before paying, travellers should check:

• Route dates: Milan Malpensa is scheduled from 29 March 2027; Tivat from 3 May 2027.
• Operating days: Milan is scheduled for Mondays and Fridays; Tivat for Mondays and Thursdays.
• Stay limits: Count earlier Schengen visits before Italy travel and earlier Montenegro visits before travelling to Tivat.
• Passport dates: Check both the issue date and the expiry date.
• Arrival steps: Allow for possible biometric checks in Italy and arrange visitor registration in Montenegro.
• Booking details: Confirm luggage, transfers, accommodation and onward travel for the specific itinerary.

A flight without a connection can simplify the air journey, but passengers remain responsible for meeting entry requirements. UK guidance warns that Schengen border checks can take extra time. Its Montenegro advice says airports can be busy in summer, with possible queues at check-in, security and passport control. These are general planning considerations, not predictions of delays on the new routes.

What Happens Next

The next confirmed milestones are the planned launches: 29 March 2027 for Milan Malpensa and 3 May 2027 for Tivat. Seats and packages are already on sale. As departure approaches, passengers should check their flight details and current official entry guidance, particularly if they have travelled elsewhere in Europe during the preceding 180 days. No visa change, special passport arrangement or new tourism policy has been announced as part of these routes.

Once the Direct Flights begin, passenger traffic and destination tourism figures may offer a clearer picture of their effect. For now, the verified outcome is a wider choice of scheduled services from Birmingham. The routes could make northern Italy and Montenegro easier to reach for some Midlands travellers, while any increase in visitor numbers or local spending remains unmeasured. That distinction keeps the news useful for holiday planning without presenting a possible tourism benefit as an established result.