Scots are getting a straight shot to Istria. Jet2.com will run a weekly direct flight between Edinburgh and Pula from May 2027, adding Croatia's northern Adriatic coast to the list of places reachable from Scotland without a connection.
The route starts on 2 May 2027 and runs every Sunday through the season, with the last scheduled flight on 17 October. That gives travellers roughly six months of summer-season access, including the shoulder months of May, June, September and October when Istria is warm but far less crowded than in August.
For Pula Airport it's a notable expansion. Edinburgh becomes the sixth Jet2 destination from the city, joining existing UK services to London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and East Midlands. The airline has been growing steadily in the region — two new Jet2holidays routes were added for 2026, and airport general manager Marko Ražem says Istria has long been a hit with English visitors. Now the airport is betting Scottish travellers will follow.
The practical upside goes both ways. Croatians and other travellers in the region get a direct option into Edinburgh, handy for city breaks or onward travel around Scotland. And for Brits, the arrival of more direct regional routes tends to make shorter trips and off-peak getaways easier — you can fly in for a long weekend of truffle menus and coastal towns without changing planes.
Why it matters: Istria has quietly become one of Croatia's most appealing corners — Roman arenas in Pula, hilltop towns like Motovun and Rovinj's old quarter, olive oil and wine country a short drive from the airport. Direct Sunday flights make it an easy week-long holiday or even a long-weekend destination for anyone in Scotland. Flights are already on sale, so early bookers will find the best fares for the first season of the route.
