Jet2 has unveiled plans to introduce 26 new flight routes to various sunny destinations across Europe. The budget airline will kick off operations from Gatwick Airport, where it has secured slots for six aircraft, including five Airbus A321neo planes stationed at the West Sussex airport. The maiden flight from Gatwick is scheduled for Tenerife, Spain, on March 26 next year.
Jet2’s CEO, Steve Heapy, expressed enthusiasm about this milestone, emphasizing the company’s commitment to offering top-notch service from London Gatwick. The airline, known for its popular ad campaigns featuring Jess Glynne’s Hold My Hand, will fly to a range of sunny destinations in the upcoming spring and summer seasons.
Gatwick will become Jet2’s 14th UK base, with flights to 29 sunshine destinations across Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and Italy. The airline’s expansion is expected to create over 300 direct job opportunities in Gatwick, covering roles such as pilots, cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations, along with hundreds of additional indirect positions.
Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Gatwick’s CEO, welcomed Jet2 to the airport, highlighting the enhanced choices and flexibility the airline brings to passengers in the South East and beyond. The collaboration coincides with the recent government approval for routine use of Gatwick’s northern runway, aiming to bolster connectivity and economic development.
Jet2, a highly acclaimed airline in the UK, has received numerous accolades, including being named Best Airline at the Routes Europe Awards and securing The Telegraph Travel Awards for Best Short-Haul Airline for three consecutive years. The airline’s reliability has been recognized by AirAdvisor, and it has maintained a Which? Recommended Provider status for ten years due to its exceptional performance and low cancellation rates.