Nice Côte d’Azur airport is getting a new direct connection to Portugal’s Atlantic island paradise. EasyJet announced it will launch twice-weekly flights to Funchal, Madeira’s capital, starting June 6th, marking the first direct link between the Côte d’Azur and the archipelago.

The British low-cost carrier will operate flights every Tuesday and Saturday, offering a faster alternative to TAP Air Portugal’s existing service, which requires a stopover in Lisbon. EasyJet is promoting introductory fares starting at €40 for the three-hour flight across the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

Competition on the Portugal route

The new route puts easyJet in direct competition with Portugal’s national carrier on a popular leisure destination. While TAP has served the Nice-Madeira market for years via Lisbon, the direct flights will shave several hours off travel time and potentially undercut prices on what can be an expensive connection.

Why visit Funchal?

Funchal sits roughly 1,000 kilometers off the Moroccan coast in the Atlantic, where subtropical microclimates keep summer temperatures comfortably in the mid-20s—warm but rarely oppressive thanks to ocean breezes. The volcanic island offers dramatic mountain scenery that plunges into the ocean, terraced vineyards producing the archipelago’s famous fortified wine, and hiking trails along centuries-old levadas—irrigation channels that snake through laurel forests and cliff faces. The capital’s historic center features colorful markets and seafront promenades, while cable cars whisk visitors up to Monte for panoramic views over red-tiled roofs tumbling down to the harbor. It’s become increasingly popular as a summer alternative to overcrowded Mediterranean beaches, offering nature and culture without the tourist crush of peak-season Spain or Italy.

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Photo credit: Mick Kirchman, Unsplash