Yes, you can now fly direct from Birmingham to The Gambia. TUI Airways started a weekly non-stop service from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Banjul on 2 November 2026. It leaves every Monday and takes around six hours.
This guide sets out the timetable, how the booking works, and the entry and health rules to sort out before you go. It also covers the part many travellers overlook: getting to BHX for an early-afternoon departure, and getting home after a 3.15am landing.
Birmingham to Gambia Direct Flights at a Glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Airline | TUI Airways |
| Route | Birmingham (BHX) to Banjul International (BJL), non-stop |
| First flight | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| Frequency | Once a week, on Mondays |
| Season | Winter only; check TUI for the final spring 2027 departures |
| Outbound | Departs Birmingham 13:40, arrives Banjul 20:00 |
| Return | Departs Banjul 21:00, arrives Birmingham 03:15 on Tuesday |
| Flight time | Around six hours |
| Aircraft | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Time difference | None in winter |
These times come from the schedule TUI filed for the first weeks of the season. Airlines adjust timetables, and times later in the winter may differ, so treat your own booking as final.
Which Airline Flies Direct From Birmingham to Banjul?
TUI Airways is the only airline flying non-stop between Birmingham and Banjul. This is TUI’s first Gambia service from BHX, and it sits alongside the operator’s existing flights from London Gatwick and Manchester.
Birmingham Airport described the launch as The Gambia coming “back” to its list of direct destinations. For Midlands travellers, it removes a drive to Manchester or Gatwick, or a change of plane in Europe.
Some flight search sites are out of date
Several flight-comparison pages still say there are no direct flights from Birmingham to The Gambia. They list one-stop journeys through European hubs instead, which take far longer than six hours.
That information predates the TUI route. If a search tool shows only connecting flights, check TUI’s own website for Monday departures.
Flight Days and Times for Winter 2026/27
One flight a week makes planning simple, but it also limits your choices.
Monday departures only
The aircraft leaves Birmingham on Monday afternoon and turns straight round in Banjul. It flies home that evening and lands back at BHX early on Tuesday.
Because there is only one rotation a week, holidays from Birmingham this winter run in blocks of seven nights. In practice, that means a 7 or 14-night stay.
No jet lag, despite the distance
The Gambia keeps Greenwich Mean Time all year. Through the winter, therefore, your watch stays exactly as it is, and a six-hour flight means six hours on the clock.
UK clocks go forward on Sunday 28 March 2027. After that date, the UK runs one hour ahead of The Gambia. If your trip falls in spring, check the local times on your booking again.
A second weekly flight is coming, but not yet
TUI has announced a second weekly flight from Birmingham to Banjul for next winter, 2027/28. Travel trade reports say it will run on Thursdays, which opens up 10 and 11-night holidays. Nothing changes for this winter, when Monday remains the only day.
If Monday doesn’t suit you
TUI also flies direct to Banjul from Manchester and London Gatwick. Their flight days may suit you better, and either airport is a realistic option from the Midlands by road. Compare dates on TUI’s website before you rule the trip out.
How Booking Works: Packages and Luggage
Most seats on the route sell as part of a TUI package holiday. TUI has advertised packages from around £800 per person, although the price depends heavily on the date, hotel and board basis. Check what your quote includes before comparing it with another.
A TUI package generally covers return flights, accommodation, resort transfers and hold luggage. TUI’s published examples for The Gambia quote 20kg of hold luggage per person, but your own confirmation is the document that counts.
The main resort areas, including Kololi and Kotu, lie on the Atlantic coast. They are roughly 30 to 45 minutes by road from Banjul International Airport. On a package, the resort transfer at that end is arranged for you.
Passport, Visa and Entry Rules for The Gambia
The rules below come from the UK government’s travel advice for British citizen passport holders. Entry rules can change, so read the latest GOV.UK page for The Gambia shortly before you fly.
- Passport: it must be valid for the length of your stay. Check with TUI as well, in case your travel provider asks for more.
- Visa: British citizens do not need one for a holiday. You receive a passport stamp on arrival that allows a stay of 28 days.
- Airport Security Fee: every traveller pays US$20 on arrival and again on departure. Children aged one or under are exempt.
Take cash for the airport fee
You pay the Airport Security Fee at marked kiosks inside Banjul International Airport. The kiosks accept US dollars, euros, British pounds and local currency.
Visa cards are accepted in principle. However, the Foreign Office warns that the card machines are often out of service. Carrying enough cash for both payments, for everyone in your party, avoids a problem at the kiosk.
Travel advice and insurance
The Foreign Office publishes safety and security advice for The Gambia alongside the entry rules. Read it before you book, and again before you fly. It also advises every traveller to take out appropriate travel insurance.
If you hold two nationalities, note one further rule. British citizens returning to the UK must carry a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement.
Health Advice Before You Travel
The Gambia needs more health preparation than a European beach holiday. TravelHealthPro, the travel health service that GOV.UK points travellers to, lists a high risk of malaria throughout the country and recommends antimalarial tablets for travellers.
It also recommends yellow fever vaccination for most travellers aged nine months and over. That is a health recommendation, not an entry rule. The Gambia only asks for a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with a transmission risk, which does not apply to a direct flight from the UK.
Speak to your GP surgery, a pharmacist or a travel clinic several weeks before departure. Some vaccines need time to take effect, and some antimalarials must be started before you leave. This article is not medical advice, and a health professional should confirm what suits you.
Getting to Birmingham Airport for the 13:40 Departure
An early-afternoon flight sounds relaxed, and in some ways it is. You avoid the 4am alarm and the weekday morning rush on the M42 and A45. A few details still need attention.
When to arrive at the terminal
TUI says its check-in desks open at least two and a half hours before short and mid-haul flights, and at least three and a half hours before long-haul flights. For a six-hour flight, arriving around three hours ahead is a sensible target. That puts you at the terminal by about 10.40am.
Online check-in opens 48 hours before departure, or 14 days before if you have paid to select seats. It closes one hour before the flight. Birmingham also has TUI self-service bag drop kiosks for passengers who have checked in online.
Your TUI confirmation will state the check-in time for your flight. For more detail on queues and busy periods, see our guide on how early to arrive at Birmingham Airport.
Day-before bag drop won’t apply
TUI runs a day-before bag drop at Birmingham, but only for flights that depart before midday. The Banjul flight leaves at 13:40, so you will check your bags in on the day. Allow for that when you plan your arrival time.
Drop-off charges at BHX
If a friend or relative is driving you, they have two official options:
| Option | Cost | Walk to the terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Set Down | £8 for up to 15 minutes, rising sharply after that | Under a minute |
| Drop Off car park | Free for up to 10 minutes | 5 to 10 minutes by covered walkway, or a free bus |
Both areas use number plate cameras with no barriers. Any charge must be paid within 24 hours of leaving. The Drop Off car park also has a no-return-within-one-hour rule. Prices change from time to time, so check the airport’s website before you travel.
Parking for 7 or 14 nights
Leaving your car at the airport is the other common choice. Pre-booked prices are normally lower than turn-up rates, and winter weeks around Christmas sell quickly. Our Birmingham Airport parking guide compares the car parks.
Bear in mind that you will collect the car at around 4am after a night flight. Some travellers are happy to drive home at that hour. Others would rather not, particularly with children asleep in the back.
Train to Birmingham International
Birmingham International station connects to the terminal by the free Air-Rail Link, which runs from 03:30 to 00:30 daily. On a normal Monday, the train works well for the outbound flight.
There is one date to watch. Birmingham New Street has no trains from 24 to 28 December 2026 because of engineering work. If you fly on Monday 28 December and your route runs through New Street, plan another way to reach the airport. Our article on Christmas rail disruption at the airports has the details.
The 03:15 Return: Planning Your Journey Home
This is the part of the trip that catches people out. The flight from Banjul is due into Birmingham at 03:15 on Tuesday morning. After passport control and baggage reclaim, most passengers will reach the arrivals hall some time around 4am.
Daytime train services have not started at that hour. Check National Rail for the first departure on your route. Waiting for it is possible, but it is a long wait after a night flight.
That leaves four realistic options:
- Your own car. It will be waiting in the car park, but you need to be fit to drive after very little sleep.
- A lift. The airport recommends Car Park 5 for collections, from £12 for up to an hour. Someone has to get up in the middle of the night, and flight delays are hard for them to follow.
- The airport taxi rank. Taxis wait outside the terminal, and the fare runs on the meter.
- A pre-booked transfer. A driver tracks the flight and meets you in arrivals at a price agreed in advance.
National Executive Transfers is based at Birmingham Airport and operates 24 hours a day. Every booking includes flight monitoring, meet-and-greet in arrivals and 60 minutes of free waiting from the time you land. If the Banjul flight comes in late, the pickup moves with it.
Choosing a Vehicle for a Winter Sun Trip
Two people with two suitcases fit comfortably in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Families and groups travelling together usually need more room.
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class carries up to seven passengers, which suits two families sharing or a larger group with bags. If you need child seats, request them when you book and give the children’s ages.
A fixed fare covers the whole journey, so a slow motorway does not change the price. Many travellers book the outbound and return together, which settles the 4am question before the holiday starts.
Before You Book: A Short Checklist
- Confirm your flight dates and times on your TUI booking, not on a third-party search site.
- Check that every passport is valid for the whole stay.
- Book a travel health appointment several weeks ahead.
- Put aside cash for the Airport Security Fee, payable on arrival and on departure.
- Read the Foreign Office travel advice and arrange travel insurance.
- Plan to reach the terminal about three hours before the 13:40 departure.
- Arrange your journey home from the 03:15 arrival before you leave the UK.
Book Your Transfer for the Banjul Flight
A direct flight from Birmingham makes The Gambia far easier to reach from the Midlands. The journey to and from the airport deserves the same planning as the holiday, above all for the early-hours return.
For a fixed-price car in either direction, see our Birmingham Airport transfers page for a quote, or call 01564 778080. Give us your flight number, passenger numbers and luggage, and we will confirm the vehicle and pickup time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. TUI Airways has flown non-stop from Birmingham Airport to Banjul since 2 November 2026. The service runs once a week on Mondays during the winter season.
The flight takes around six hours. The current timetable shows a 13:40 departure from Birmingham arriving in Banjul at 20:00, with no time difference in winter.
Monday. The return flight leaves Banjul on Monday evening and lands in Birmingham in the early hours of Tuesday. TUI has announced a second weekly flight for winter 2027/28.
No. According to GOV.UK, British citizen passport holders receive a stamp on arrival that allows a 28-day stay. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your visit.
The Airport Security Fee is US$20 per person, paid on arrival and again on departure. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds or local currency. Children aged one or under are exempt.
UK travel health guidance recommends antimalarial tablets and advises yellow fever vaccination for most travellers. A yellow fever certificate is not an entry requirement when you arrive directly from the UK. Ask a travel health professional what you need.
Not in winter, as both use Greenwich Mean Time. After the UK clocks go forward on 28 March 2027, the UK is one hour ahead.
Daytime trains have not started at that hour, so the main choices are your own car, a lift, the taxi rank or a pre-booked transfer. A pre-booked car with flight monitoring adjusts to delays automatically.
