Jet2 and Jet2holidays have launched their first flights on a brand-new route between the UK's third busiest airport and an international airport in Croatia, a country which welcomed an impressive 21.3 million arrivals in total in 2024.

The inaugural flight took off in early May, with services set to operate twice a week until mid-October, the Croatian Tourist Board confirmed. The brand-new route connects Manchester Airport with Pula, a gorgeous city at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula in western Croatia. The city is known for its impressive number of ancient Roman buildings, the most famous of which is the Pula Arena, one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres. The new route is expected to boost travel between the UK and Croatia, especially as British interest in the country continues to grow.

“This year’s first Jet2 flights to Croatia have been met with great enthusiasm and a notable increase in interest for our destinations,” said Bisera Fabrio, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) office in the UK, according to Croatia Week.

“With Jet2 returning to Pula and expanding its offer, we are confident that the number of British tourists in Istria this summer will be significantly higher.”

In addition to Pula Arena, tourists to the city must stop by the impressive Temple of Augustus, a well-preserved Roman temple dedicated to the first Roman emperor, Augustus.

It is said to have been built during his lifetime, between 27 BC and 14 AD. Porta Gemina, meanwhile, is a double-arched Roman city gate that was built in the late second century. In antiquity, Pula was surrounded by walls, with Porta Gemina acting as one of 10 gates into the city, standing at the north side. Part of these walls are still visible today, connecting the gate to Giardin square.

The city has a long tradition of wine making, fishing and shipbuilding. It was the administrative centre of Istria from ancient Roman times all the way until it was superseded by Pazin in 1991.

Pula Airport (PUY), where the new budget airline flights will arrive, lies just four miles from the city centre and served nearly 780,000 passengers in 2019, its record.

This is not the only Jet2 route to Pula on offer this summer. The airline is also operating flights from Birmingham to Pula twice a week until mid-October and a weekly Saturday service from London Stansted, meaning Brits from all over the UK can visit this incredible city.

A new exclusive route from East Midlands Airport to Pula is also set to launch on May 24.

With this expansion, Jet2 can now fly to three airports in Croatia – Dubrovnik, Split, and Pula – allowing travellers to explore the country’s diverse coastal regions framing the Adriatic Sea.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, commented on the company’s largest summer programme for Croatia to date: “Our new flights and holiday packages, along with our largest selection of options to date, offer plenty of choice for holidaymakers eager to discover this stunning Croatian region filled with scenic landscapes and cultural treasures. We’re confident the new Pula route will be a huge hit.”

Manchester Airport welcomed a record-breaking over 30 million passengers in 2024, making it the UK's third busiest airport, only behind Heathrow and Gatwick.