London to Gran Canaria is one of the UK’s most popular winter-sun routes, and it’s an easy one: several airlines fly non-stop in around four and a half hours, so there’s no need to connect. Checking every return fare on sale, it is cheaper than its winter-sun reputation suggests: the median return is £58. This guide covers who really flies the route, which London airport the cheap fares leave from, what a return actually costs in pounds, and when to book.
Route: London (LGW / LTN / STN) → Gran Canaria (LPA), Las Palmas
Distance: approximately 2,900 km (1,800 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 4h 20m – 4h 35m
Direct flights: Yes — easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, British Airways and TUI all fly non-stop from London airports, and 99 of the 100 cheapest fares we found are direct. Check which airport, though: Ryanair flies from Stansted and Luton at £43–£60, and most of the cheap easyJet fares leave from Southend rather than Gatwick or Luton. There’s no reason to take a connection on this route.
Fares from London to Gran Canaria (GBP)
Gran Canaria is a year-round destination, but as a winter-sun favourite its fares run opposite to most European beaches: the pricey peak is the cool UK winter (especially Christmas and February half-term), while the UK summer is quieter and often cheaper. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds for the non-stop — the lowest come from the budget carriers when you travel light and book early.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | high (winter sun) |
| February | — | high (half-term) |
| March | — | medium-high |
| April | — | medium (Easter peaks) |
| May | — | medium |
| June | — | medium |
| July | — | medium (summer holidays) |
| August | — | medium-high |
| September | — | low |
| October | — | medium (half-term) |
| November | — | medium (winter sun starts) |
| December | — | very high (Christmas) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, a genuinely good return lands around £45–£65 — that band is right, and it is the ordinary price rather than a find: the median is £58 and the floor £43. So a return under about £50 is genuinely good, and there is nothing much below the low forties. The three-figure fares on this route are the full-service and peak-date ones — Iberia at £147–£197 from Gatwick, and Jet2 up to £231 on the busiest dates. Those cheap fares are hand-baggage only.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 4½ hours):
- easyJet — the most frequent, from Gatwick and Luton; flexible dates and easy add-on bags.
- Jet2 — from Gatwick, Luton and Stansted; a package-friendly option with a generous cabin bag.
- Ryanair — from Luton and Stansted; usually the lowest headline fares if you travel light.
- British Airways — from Gatwick; a full-service option with seat and bag choice.
- TUI — from Luton; handy if you want a flight-and-hotel package.
With five carriers competing across three London airports, this route is nearly always cheapest booked direct with a low-cost airline — there’s no benefit to a connecting itinerary. Compare the all-in price once bags and seats are added, as the “lead-in” budget fares can climb.
When to book & how to save
- Book 4–10 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares; unlike long-haul, short-haul prices can spike sharply in the final fortnight.
- Avoid the winter-sun peaks: Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the busiest and most expensive — travel in the UK summer or the September/November shoulder for the best value.
- Travel light: the cheapest fares are cabin-bag-only, so if you can pack into a small bag you’ll unlock the lowest prices; add a checked bag only if you need it.
- Be flexible on London airport: Luton and Stansted often price below Gatwick, and midweek flights are usually cheaper than weekends.
- Fly midweek: Tuesday to Thursday departures typically beat Friday–Sunday by £20–£60 on a return.
Arriving in Gran Canaria
All flights land at Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), on the east coast about 18 km south of the capital, Las Palmas, and around 25–35 km from the southern resorts of Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas and Puerto Rico. The cheapest way in is the public bus (Global lines) — roughly £3–£6 to Las Palmas or the south — while a taxi to the southern resorts costs around £35–£45. Gran Canaria is part of Spain and the EU, so UK visitors can enter visa-free for short stays; note the EU’s EES biometric checks are now in operation at arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from London to Gran Canaria?
Yes. easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, British Airways and TUI all fly non-stop from London airports (mainly Gatwick, Luton and Stansted) to Gran Canaria. With so many carriers on the route, there’s no need to take a connecting flight.
How long is the flight from London to Gran Canaria?
The non-stop flight takes about 4 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes. Despite feeling like a long-haul beach break, the Canary Islands are off the coast of north-west Africa, so it’s really a medium-haul hop.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Gran Canaria?
A typical economy return runs about £43–£61 on the low-cost carriers, median £58, with the whole sample spanning £43–£231. Iberia from Gatwick runs £147–£197. The Christmas and February half-term peaks push the low-cost fares toward the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Gran Canaria?
September is usually the cheapest, followed by May and June. In the dates we could price, returns started at £43. Avoid December, the New Year and February half-term, which are the busiest and most expensive winter-sun weeks.
Which airlines fly from London to Gran Canaria?
Ryanair (Stansted and Luton) carried the cheapest fares in our data at £43–£60, with easyJet at £49–£61 — mostly from Southend, so check your airport. Jet2 ran £58–£231 depending on the date and Iberia £147–£197 from Gatwick. British Airways (Gatwick) and TUI (Luton) also fly the route but did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked. The budget carriers carry the lowest fares if you travel with hand luggage only.
Which airport do I fly into in Gran Canaria?
You arrive at Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), the island’s only airport, on the east coast between the capital Las Palmas and the southern resorts. It’s about 18 km from Las Palmas and 25–35 km from Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas.
How far in advance should I book London to Gran Canaria flights?
Aim for 4 to 10 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares. Short-haul prices rise sharply in the last two weeks and around school holidays, so booking early — especially for Christmas and half-term travel — makes the biggest difference.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually cheaper than Friday–Sunday, and choosing Luton or Stansted over Gatwick can save more. Flexing your dates by a day or two can cut £20–£60 off a return on this route.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
