Jet2.com Limited is a subsidiary of Jet2 plc, an aviation services group. The airline began operating commercial aircraft in 1983 under the name Channel Express, when it was purchased by the Dart Group's current Executive Chairman, Philip Meeson. Initially a freight operator, from 2001 the airline also began operating passenger charter services using Boeing aircraft to international destinations on mainly short and medium-haul routes.
In 2002, Channel Express established the Jet2.com brand from Leeds Bradford International Airport. The re-branded Jet2.com began operating as a leisure airline with its first flight from Leeds Bradford to Amsterdam on 12 February 2003, which operated a twice-daily rotation with two Boeing 737–300 aircraft. During 2003, further scheduled flights were launched to seven European sun and city break destinations.
In 2004, a second base was opened at Manchester Airport with the airline operating from Terminal 1. The airline also acquired further Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft and opened a base at Belfast International Airport. In 2005, Jet2.com opened a third base at Newcastle upon Tyne. Later in the year, the company acquired two Boeing 757–200 aircraft, enabling it to fly medium-long haul destinations as well as carrying more passengers on popular existing routes. These aircraft helped the company to open two more bases at Blackpool and Edinburgh. In 2006, the company relocated from Bournemouth to Leeds and was renamed Jet2.com Limited.[8]
Expansion
In November 2008, Jet2.com changed its slogan from "The North's Low Cost Airline" to "Friendly Low Fares". This preceded the announcement of opening a hub at East Midlands Airport, the first of the airline's hubs outside the North of England and Scotland. The base at East Midlands Airport opened in May 2010.[9]
During November and December 2008 the airline operated four direct flights from Leeds Bradford to Newark Liberty International Airport using Boeing 757-200s, with a series of flights also planned from both Leeds Bradford and Newcastle during December 2010. Once again, Jet2.com re-introduced seasonal Christmas flights to New York during the 2012 winter season, however, this time flights would operate from Glasgow, East Midlands and Newcastle, in addition to Leeds. The seasonal flights to New York continued annually until 2019 and ran from five of its UK bases.[10] As an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, the airline cancelled their seasonal trips and they have not returned as of 2024. It is possible that they will not return as the airline are slowly retireing their Boeing 757 Aircraft, which were formerly used to run the trips and the Airbus A321neo aircraft replacing the Boeing 757s do not have enough reasonable range to cover the trips.
In 2010, the airline announced an eighth base at Glasgow Airport would be opened in April 2011, with an initial nine routes.[11] The base was opened on 31 March, slightly earlier than scheduled. In January 2011, the airline introduced second-hand Boeing 737–800 aircraft into its fleet. This provided aircraft larger than its existing 737-300s yet smaller than its 757-200 aircraft.
Jet2.com carried over 600,000 passengers in its first year of operation and over nine million passengers during 2017; its highest recorded total.[12]
On 17 September 2016, the airline received its first brand new Boeing 737–800 of the order for thirty made in 2015.[13] In November 2016, Jet2.com opened its new maintenance hangar at Manchester Airport. In December 2016, Jet2.com announced that it had ordered a further four Boeing 737–800 aircraft, bringing the total on order to 34.[citation needed]
Recent years
In 2019, Jet2.com received delivery of its 34th new Boeing 737–800 aircraft, taking its permanent and leased fleet size to more than 100 aircraft.[14] Also in 2019, Jet2.com carried a record 14.39 million passengers on 82,931 flights. This was an increase of over 18% over the year before. [citation needed]
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on aviation, Jet2.com announced they were suspending flight operations until at least 15 July 2020. The airline continued to operate repatriation flights for British citizens overseas. On 17 August 2020, Jet2 announced via BALPA, that they would be laying off 102 pilots from various UK bases, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
On 11 November 2020, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays announced that they would open their tenth United Kingdom base at Bristol Airport on 1 July 2021, operating to 33 destinations.
In September 2021, Jet2.com announced an order for 36 Airbus A321neo aircraft, plus 24 options, totalling purchasing power for 60 planes.[citation needed] Although Jet2 has operated a small number of Airbus jets on lease to cope with summer demand, this is Airbus' first direct order from Jet2, and a shift away from the company's traditionally all-Boeing fleet.[citation needed]
Jet2.com celebrated its 20th birthday on 12 February 2023. On the same date it was revealed that Jet2holidays had become the UK's largest tour operator with an ATOL license to carry 5.8m passengers, surpassing TUI's 5.3m.[6] On 16 May 2023, Jet2 announced they were opening their 11th United Kingdom base at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. In June 2023, Jet2 have announced an expansion to their 2024 summer season, with some destinations being made available from earlier months, and extra capacity for other destinations. This is to meet customer and travel agent demands.[16] This includes additional services to Spain, Turkey, Italy and Greece destinations across all of their bases. In July 2023, Jet2 announced that its Chairman Philip Meeson was stepping down.[17] Robin Terrell took over as Chairman in September 2023. Robin joined Jet2 as a non-executive director in April 2020. Meeson has now moved to the position of founder and advisor to the board.[18]
On 26 March 2024, Jet2.com announced they would open their twelfth United Kingdom base at Bournemouth Airport on 1 April 2025, operating to 16 destinations.[19]
On 28 March 2024, Jet2 launched its first flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Tenerife, marking the start of its new services to 20 different holiday destinations with plans for further expansion in summer 2025.[20]
Jet2.com's Registered office, Low Fare Finder House, is located on the grounds of Leeds Bradford International Airport. Construction of the facility broke ground in 2006, in order to accommodate pilots, cabin crew, and back of house operations. In April 2013, Jet2.com moved its Customer Contact, Finance, IT, Human Resources, Commercial and Marketing departments to a new office, "Holiday House", located within the city centre of Leeds.[21] In September 2014, the airline opened a new £9.5 million training academy at Euroway Industrial Estate in Bradford.[22] In addition to the training centre located in Bradford, Jet2.com announced in February 2023 that they'd opened a new £8.5 million training centre in Cheadle. Both training centres will operate in parallel.
Senior leadership
Non-Executive Chairman: Robin Terrell (since September 2023)[18]
Chief Executive: Steve Heapy (since January 2013)[23]
Managing Director: Phil Ward (since January 2005)[24]
Business Development Director: Ian Doubtfire (since February 2003)[24]
In 2007, sister company Jet2holidays was launched offering package holidays. In 2011, Jet2 launched their new brand, indulgent escapes, providing some more luxurious getaways. On 29 April 2015, sister company Jet2CityBreaks was launched. In June 2017, Jet2.com launched Jet2Villas through its Jet2holidays brand.
Ownership
Jet2.com is wholly owned by Jet2 plc (formerly Dart Group PLC), a holding company based in Leeds, England.
In October 2021, Jet2.com announced that they had placed an order with Airbus to purchase multiple Airbus A321neo aircraft.[33] In July 2022, Jet2.com further announced that they had expanded their order with Airbus, ordering a total of 60 A321neo aircraft.[34] In October 2022, Jet2.com announced an additional order for 35 Airbus A320neo aircraft.[35] These aircraft are intended to increase fleet size and replace existing Boeing 757 and Boeing 737-300 aircraft, both of which are slowly being retired.[36]
In 2024, Jet2 will retrofit 50 Boeing 737-800s with Split-Scimitar Winglets, making the aircraft more fuel efficient. These will include the 34 Boeing 737s that Jet2 took delivery new between 2016-2019.[citation needed]
Historic fleet
The table shows a list of Jet2's historic fleet, many of which are leased aircraft previously used by the company.[37]
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