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Guide

Best Airlines for UK–Portugal & Greece (2026): Lisbon, Faro, Athens

By Marco Bellini July 6, 2026 9 min read

Quick Answer

UK–Portugal: TAP for Star Alliance and Lisbon hub; Ryanair/easyJet for lowest fares; Faro (/airports/faro) for Algarve packages. UK–Greece: Aegean for island connections via Athens (/airports/athens); Jet2/TUI for direct seasonal island routes. See airport guides for lounge and ground transport. The full guide below covers terminals, access rules, opening hours, worked examples and FAQs.

UK–Portugal and UK–Greece routes. — Photo: GualdimG / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Portugal routing

Lisbon (LIS) for city breaks and TAP connections to Brazil and islands. Faro (FAO) for Algarve beach holidays — Jet2 and TUI dominate.

TAP business LHR–LIS competitive for Star Alliance collectors. Metro in Lisbon beats taxi for city access.

Greece routing

Athens (ATH) for mainland and Aegean domestic connections to Santorini and Crete. Direct seasonal UK–JTR/HER on Jet2 in summer.

Aegean Star Alliance — earn and burn via Aeroplan or other Star partners. Allow 2+ hrs for ATH domestic connections.

Before you pack — pre-trip essentials

Flight and hotel links convert late. Finance, FX, insurance, and gear decisions happen weeks earlier — when professionals budget for long-haul stays. These picks fund FlightLogic without touching editorial scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon or Faro from the UK?

Lisbon for city and TAP hub. Faro exclusively for Algarve resorts.

Athens or direct to Greek islands?

Direct in summer saves time. Athens offers year-round airline choice and Aegean connections.

Written by Marco Bellini

Editor, Europe & Lounges

Marco is FlightLogic's lounge specialist, having reviewed first class terminals and independent Priority Pass lounges across four continents. He previously worked ground operations at Malpensa Airport.

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