London to Madeira is a medium-haul favourite — a non-stop flight of around four hours to a subtropical island that stays warm all year. Several UK carriers fly it direct, so there is rarely any need to connect, and fares can be genuinely cheap outside the summer and Christmas peaks. This guide covers who flies the route, what a fair return costs in pounds, and when to book.
Route: London (LGW / LTN / STN) → Funchal, Madeira (FNC)
Distance: approximately 2,750 km (1,710 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 3h 55m southbound
Direct flights: Yes — and the cheapest of them is one the usual lists leave out: Ryanair from Stansted carried more than half the low fares we found, from £66 return. easyJet flies non-stop from Gatwick and Luton (£77–£88), Jet2 from Stansted and Luton (£82–£86), and British Airways (BA Euroflyer) from Gatwick. TAP Air Portugal serves the route mainly via Lisbon, which is slower and rarely cheaper.
Fares from London to Madeira (GBP)
Madeira is a true year-round destination, popular as a winter-sun escape as well as a summer one, so demand never fully drops away. The dearest weeks are high summer, the February half-term, Easter and the famous New Year fireworks period; the cheapest fares appear in the autumn and late-winter shoulders. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | medium-high (winter sun) |
| February | — | high (half-term) |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium-high (Easter) |
| May | — | medium |
| June | — | medium |
| July | — | high (summer) |
| August | — | very high (summer peak) |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | low-medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | very high (Christmas / New Year) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, this route is cheaper than it is usually made out to be: the non-stop fares sit in a tight band at £66–£90 return, median £85. The three-figure prices often quoted are what the Lisbon connection costs (£230), not a direct. So a fare in the mid-eighties is the going rate rather than a find, and a genuinely good return is under about £78 — usually on Ryanair out of Stansted, which holds the £66 floor.
Airlines on this route
All the sensible options are non-stop — a one-stop via Lisbon is slower and seldom cheaper. The direct carriers are:
- easyJet — non-stop from Gatwick and Luton; usually the widest choice of days and the lowest lead-in fares.
- British Airways (operated by BA Euroflyer) — non-stop from Gatwick; full-service, with a cabin bag included.
- Jet2 — non-stop from Stansted and Luton; leisure-focused, with a generous checked-bag allowance on package-style fares.
TAP Air Portugal also links London to Funchal, but almost always with a change in Lisbon — useful if you want to stop over, but not the way to save money or time.
When to book & how to save
- Book 6–12 weeks ahead for the best balance of price and choice; the cheapest medium-haul fares to Madeira rarely last into the final fortnight.
- Travel in the shoulder months (May, and September to November) for the lowest fares and the most comfortable walking weather.
- Avoid the New Year peak: Madeira’s famous Funchal fireworks make late December the single most expensive week — book months ahead or skip it.
- Compare all-in prices including bags: the lowest easyJet fares are cabin-bag-only, while Jet2 and British Airways often include more — check the total, not just the headline.
- Be flexible on London airport: Stansted and Gatwick departures are frequently cheaper than the average, and all three feed the same island.
Arriving in Madeira
Flights land at Madeira Airport (FNC), also known as Cristiano Ronaldo International, on the south coast about 18 km east of Funchal. The Aerobus (SAM line) runs to central Funchal in around 30–45 minutes for roughly £5, while a taxi to the city takes about 20 minutes and costs around £20–£25. Madeira uses the euro, so carry some for buses and small purchases even though your flight is priced in pounds.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from London to Madeira?
Yes. Ryanair flies non-stop from Stansted and had the cheapest fares we found (£66–£90), easyJet flies non-stop from Gatwick and Luton (£77–£88), Jet2 from Stansted and Luton (£82–£86), and British Airways (BA Euroflyer) from Gatwick. TAP Air Portugal also serves Funchal but usually via Lisbon, which takes longer and, at £230, was never cheaper than a direct flight.
How long is the flight from London to Madeira?
The non-stop flight takes about 3 hours 55 minutes southbound, and a similar time on the return. A one-stop routing via Lisbon can push the total journey to six or seven hours, so the direct services are well worth choosing.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Madeira?
A typical non-stop economy return runs about £80–£87, median £85, with the directs spanning £66–£90. The Lisbon connection is a separate tier at £230. Good deals start at £66; our sample includes August departures and the direct fares held their band, so the summer premium is smaller than usually assumed, though Easter and the New Year period still price above it.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Madeira?
November, and the May and September–October shoulders are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, non-stop returns started at £66. Avoid August and the Christmas–New Year fireworks period, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Madeira?
Non-stop, cheapest first in our fare data: Ryanair from Stansted (£66–£90, more than half the cheap fares and the lowest on the route), easyJet from Gatwick and Luton (£77–£88) and Jet2 from Stansted and Luton (£82–£86). British Airways / BA Euroflyer also flies non-stop from Gatwick but did not appear among the cheapest when we checked. TAP Air Portugal offers one-stop connections via Lisbon at £230. For price and speed, the direct carriers are not just almost always but always the better choice here.
Which airport do I fly into in Madeira?
You arrive at Madeira Airport (FNC), also called Cristiano Ronaldo International, about 18 km east of Funchal on the island’s south coast. The Aerobus and taxis both link it to the city in well under an hour.
How far in advance should I book London to Madeira flights?
Aim to book 6 to 12 weeks ahead. Medium-haul fares to Madeira tend to rise as departure approaches, particularly for summer, Easter and the New Year fireworks, so booking a couple of months out usually secures the best price.
Is Madeira warm enough to visit in winter?
Yes — that is a big part of its appeal. Funchal typically sees daytime highs around 19–21°C even in January and February, which is why the island is a popular winter-sun escape and why fares hold up through the colder UK months.
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.
