Popular for its picturesque hiking trails, rugged volcanic peaks and azure-blue waters, Madeira has become a hit with tourists in recent years.
Thanks to its paradise landscape and and European location, the Atlantic archipelago – located just over 600 miles from mainland Portugal – is often dubbed the ‘Hawaii of Europe’.
It was also voted the world’s number one Trending Destination for 2026 in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards.
And this summer, Madeira will become more accessible for British travellers – much to the dismay of locals who continue to revolt against the ever-rising number of foreign visitors.
Madeira is set to strengthen its connectivity to the UK – with a total of 55 flights to depart each week at the height of summer from major airports.
Flights from London to the island will increase by 11 per cent, with easyJet operating twice weekly routes from Luton Airport, and an additional departure on Mondays introduced by Jet2.
Direct, one-way easyJet flights from Luton to Madeira start at just £42 in July on Skyscanner.
Flyers from the South West of England will also benefit from improved flexibility, with Bristol Airport increasing direct routes to the island from four to five per week.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth Airport, which launched direct routes to the capital Funchal last summer, sees the high-anticipated return of weekly Jet2 flights.
Multiple weekly flights will also operate from major hubs across the nation, including Belfast, Birmingham, east Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.
Famed for its distinctive landscapes, which includes rugged peaks, lush Levada trails and miles of golden and black-sand beaches, Madeira has seen a surge of visitors in recent years, with nearly six million overnight stays in the first quarter of 2025.
However, local frustration on the island recently reached boiling point – and this increase in flights is set to annoy residents even more.
As business booms, local costs have risen and trails that were once quiet have become overcrowded and harder for residents to enjoy.
On Reddit, Madeira residents have voiced their anger over ‘parasitic’ tourists putting a strain on resources and driving an increase in housing prices.
One person wrote: ‘There are complaints about the strain on resources like water and electricity, the increase in prices for housing, and the sense that some areas are becoming almost unrecognizable due to commercialization.
‘Many are frustrated that the island’s natural beauty is at risk, and the tranquil, close-knit community life they cherish is shifting toward something more chaotic and crowded.’
Another added: ‘We mostly don’t mind if people are respectful, come in and leave.
‘Our issue with tourists started when people started to destroy things, leave trash everywhere, park like t***s, and make it impossible for us to visit all the beautiful places you wanna see.’
A second shared: ‘I own a small hostel in the city centre, and I noticed a decrease in quality in terms of the tourists we get, especially after low-cost flight companies (Ryanair and others) started operating here.
‘Is it good for the business? Sure. For the island as a whole? Not really.’
A third chimed: ‘You can stop tourists from not spending money here. If there’s nothing cheap they won’t come. Simple as. Guess what is cheap? The housing we lost.
‘Tourism isn’t bad by default, parasitic tourism is. We have cheap tourist because we have cheap options. Erase those and they’re gone.’
To combat the overtourism problem, as of February, international visitors have been forced to pay a €4.50 (£3.92) fee for a ticket to access the island’s famous hiking trails – which must be used within a 30-minute time frame.
Holidaymakers can save money however, if they book with a tour operator. In this scenario, they will only be charged €3 (£2.61).
Each booking slot will have a limit of how many people can attend, which officials hope will help manage busier periods.
Those aged under 12 and residents do not have to pay but must still book a slot.