Jet2.com
Corporate brand
UnclaimedBritish leisure airline operating scheduled and charter flights alongside package-holiday services through the wider Jet2 group.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Jet2.com is a British leisure airline headquartered in Leeds, England, and based at Leeds Bradford Airport. It operates scheduled and charter passenger services from a broad network of United Kingdom airports to holiday and city-break destinations across Europe, with particular strength in Spain, the Mediterranean, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and France. The airline holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A operating licence, allowing it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with at least 20 seats. The business has its roots in Channel Express, an airline acquired by entrepreneur Philip Meeson in 1983. Channel Express initially concentrated on freight operations and later added passenger charter flying. The Jet2.com brand was launched in 2003 from Leeds Bradford Airport, beginning with Boeing 737-300 aircraft and flights to Amsterdam before expanding rapidly into European leisure and city-break markets. Manchester became the airline's second base in 2004, followed by Belfast International and Newcastle. Subsequent base openings and fleet additions extended its reach across northern England, Scotland and eventually the Midlands and southeast of England. Jet2.com is closely integrated with Jet2holidays, the group's package-holiday business launched in 2007. This combination of airline capacity, accommodation and destination services gives the group a vertically coordinated leisure-travel model rather than a purely seat-only low-cost airline proposition. Related brands include Jet2CityBreaks, Indulgent Escapes and Jet2Villas. The airline also offers charter services under the Jet2charters name and has maintained commercial links with other carriers, including an interline agreement with Air Transat. Its operating model combines low fares with a leisure-oriented customer proposition marketed around service, reliability and holiday convenience. The company changed its slogan from “The North's Low Cost Airline” to “Friendly Low Fares” in 2008 as it expanded beyond its original northern-English and Scottish emphasis. Seasonal and charter flying has supplemented its scheduled network, including special winter services to New York that operated from several United Kingdom bases until the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jet2.com expanded substantially during the 2010s. It opened bases at East Midlands, Glasgow, Birmingham and London Stansted, while increasing capacity at Manchester and other established airports. A large Boeing fleet supported this growth, including Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft. The airline received its first new Boeing 737-800 in 2016 and exceeded 100 aircraft when permanent and leased aircraft were included by 2019. The COVID-19 crisis forced a temporary suspension of most flying in 2020, although repatriation services continued and pilot redundancies were announced. The carrier subsequently resumed expansion and added Bristol, Liverpool, Bournemouth and London Luton to its base network. Fleet strategy has increasingly shifted toward Airbus narrow-body aircraft. Jet2.com placed its first direct Airbus order in 2021 and later expanded and restructured its commitments, focusing on the A321neo. The new aircraft are intended to support network growth and replace older Boeing 737-300 and 757-200 aircraft. The last passenger Boeing 757s were retired in early 2025, ending the type's operation with the final United Kingdom airline to fly the passenger version. Jet2.com is wholly owned by Jet2 plc, formerly known as Dart Group PLC, and is not separately listed. The parent company's shares trade on the London Stock Exchange. The wider group has positioned Jet2.com and Jet2holidays as a major United Kingdom package-holiday and leisure-aviation platform. In 2023, Jet2holidays was reported as the United Kingdom's largest tour operator by ATOL-licensed passenger capacity, reflecting the scale of the integrated airline-and-holidays business.
History
Jet2.com's corporate origins lie in Channel Express, a freight airline acquired by Philip Meeson in 1983. The business initially focused on cargo but began adding passenger charter operations with Boeing aircraft in 2001. This provided the operational foundation for a later scheduled leisure airline and connected the company to the broader Dart Group, now Jet2 plc. The Jet2.com brand was introduced in 2003 from Leeds Bradford Airport. Its first scheduled service, to Amsterdam, began on 12 February 2003 using two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The initial network expanded during the same year to additional European sun and city-break destinations. Manchester became the second base in 2004, while Belfast International and Newcastle were added as the airline acquired Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 aircraft. The larger 757 enabled higher-capacity and longer-range services and supported additional bases at Blackpool and Edinburgh. In 2006, the company moved its headquarters from Bournemouth to Leeds and adopted the legal name Jet2.com Limited. The airline continued to broaden its customer proposition. In 2007, sister company Jet2holidays began selling package holidays, giving the group a more integrated position in the leisure market. Indulgent Escapes followed in 2011, and Jet2CityBreaks launched in 2015. Jet2Villas was later introduced through Jet2holidays. A major positioning change occurred in 2008, when the slogan “The North's Low Cost Airline” was replaced by “Friendly Low Fares.” The change accompanied national expansion and the announcement of an East Midlands base, which opened in May 2010. Jet2.com also operated a number of seasonal transatlantic services to New York from Leeds Bradford and later from several other United Kingdom bases. These flights continued through 2019 but were discontinued in the context of the COVID-19 disruption. The 2010s were a period of substantial fleet and network growth. Glasgow opened as a base in 2011, and second-hand Boeing 737-800 aircraft entered the fleet that year. Birmingham and London Stansted followed in 2017, bringing the airline into the Midlands and southeast markets. Jet2.com received its first new Boeing 737-800 in September 2016 and opened a new maintenance hangar at Manchester later that year. By 2019 it had received 34 new 737-800 aircraft and had more than 100 aircraft when leased aircraft were included. The pandemic created the most severe interruption in the company's history. Jet2.com suspended normal flight operations until at least July 2020 but retained repatriation activity. The resulting reduction in demand led to the announced redundancy of 102 pilots in August 2020. The company subsequently rebuilt its network, announcing Bristol as a new base for 2021 and later adding Liverpool, Bournemouth and London Luton to its United Kingdom base network. Fleet strategy has changed materially since 2021. Jet2.com placed its first direct order with Airbus for A321neo aircraft, later enlarging and revising its commitments. The A321neo programme is intended to provide additional capacity and replace older Boeing aircraft. In early 2025, the remaining passenger Boeing 757s were retired, ending a distinctive part of the airline's fleet history. Leadership also changed in 2023. Philip Meeson stepped down as chairman after two decades in the role and became founder and adviser to the board. Robin Terrell, who had joined Jet2 as a non-executive director in 2020, became chairman in September 2023. Steve Heapy has served as chief executive since 2013. Today, Jet2.com operates as the airline arm of Jet2 plc's integrated leisure-travel group. Its scheduled and charter flying supports Jet2holidays and related travel brands, while the group continues to focus on United Kingdom holidaymakers travelling to European resort and city destinations.
- 2025
Passenger Boeing 757 fleet retired
[1]Jet2.com phased out its remaining passenger Boeing 757 aircraft, completing an important fleet transition.
- 2023
Chairmanship changes
[1]Robin Terrell became chairman while Philip Meeson moved to a founder and adviser role.
- 2021
First Airbus A321neo order
[1]Jet2.com placed its first direct Airbus order, beginning a transition toward the A321neo.
- 2020
COVID-19 operational suspension
[1]Most scheduled operations were suspended during the pandemic, with repatriation flights continuing.
- 2017
Birmingham and London Stansted bases open
[1]The airline expanded into Birmingham and London Stansted, extending its national airport coverage.
- 2016
First new Boeing 737-800 delivered
[1]Jet2.com received the first aircraft from a major order for new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
- 2010
East Midlands base opens
[1]East Midlands became the airline's first base outside its original northern England and Scottish concentration.
- 2007
Jet2holidays launches
[1]The sister package-holiday business was introduced, strengthening the group's integrated airline-and-holidays model.
- 2006
Company relocates to Leeds and adopts Jet2.com Limited name
[1]The company moved its headquarters from Bournemouth to Leeds and was renamed Jet2.com Limited.
- 2003
Jet2.com brand launches
[1]Scheduled Jet2.com services began from Leeds Bradford Airport, initially linking the airport with Amsterdam and other European destinations.
Products and positioning
Low-fare, service-led leisure airline integrated with a large United Kingdom package-holiday operator.
Airline passenger service · 2003
Jet2.com scheduled flights
The core Jet2.com offering is scheduled leisure air travel from United Kingdom airports to European holiday resorts and city-break destinations. The network is concentrated on Spain, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Bulgaria and other Mediterranean markets. The airline combines low-fare pricing with a service proposition aimed at holiday travellers and operates from a geographically broad base network.
Charter aviation
Jet2charters
Jet2charters provides charter flying under the Jet2 brand. It extends the airline's original charter capability beyond scheduled routes and can support group, seasonal and specialist travel requirements using the company's passenger aircraft and operating infrastructure.
Package holidays · 2007
Jet2holidays
Jet2holidays is the group's integrated package-holiday business. It combines Jet2.com flights with accommodation and destination arrangements, allowing customers to purchase complete holidays rather than air tickets alone. The business is central to Jet2's vertically coordinated leisure model and has become one of the largest United Kingdom tour operators.
City-break packages · 2015
Jet2CityBreaks
Jet2CityBreaks offers short-break travel packages built around flights to European cities. The product extends the group beyond traditional beach holidays and uses Jet2.com's scheduled network to package transport and accommodation for urban leisure trips.
Premium holiday packages · 2011
Indulgent Escapes
Indulgent Escapes is a more upscale holiday proposition associated with Jet2holidays. It targets customers seeking higher-end accommodation and a more premium leisure experience while retaining access to the group's flight and holiday-booking platform.
Villa holidays · 2017
Jet2Villas
Jet2Villas provides villa-oriented accommodation and holiday packages through the Jet2holidays distribution platform. It broadens the group's accommodation range beyond conventional hotels and supports self-contained family and group travel.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Hold My Hand
United Kingdom · International social media audiences
Jet2.com's long-running campaign uses Jess Glynne's “Hold My Hand” and a voice-over by actress Zoë Lister. The campaign presents upbeat holiday imagery and became strongly associated with the brand's package-holiday advertising.
Outcome. The campaign gained renewed viral visibility on TikTok in 2025, where users paired the audio with humorous or unexpected video compilations.
- 2008Friendly Low Fares
United Kingdom
Jet2.com replaced its earlier “The North's Low Cost Airline” slogan with “Friendly Low Fares.” The repositioning reflected the airline's expansion beyond its original regional concentration and emphasized approachable service alongside competitive pricing.
Outcome. The slogan became the airline's principal positioning during a period of national base expansion.
Brand decisions
2024
Expand the United Kingdom base networkStrategyBackground
Jet2.com continued to add airport capacity in response to demand for direct holiday flights from regional United Kingdom markets.
Action taken
The airline announced or accelerated operations at Bournemouth and announced a new London Luton base, while continuing the Liverpool expansion.
Aftermath
The planned additions increased the number of United Kingdom operating bases and broadened access to the airline's European leisure network.
2023
Leadership succession at board levelStrategyBackground
Founder and long-serving chairman Philip Meeson stepped away from the chairmanship after the group entered a more mature expansion phase.
Action taken
Robin Terrell became non-executive chairman, while Meeson moved into a founder and adviser role.
Aftermath
The transition preserved Meeson's connection with the group while placing formal board leadership with Terrell.
2021
Order Airbus A321neo aircraftM&ABackground
Jet2.com had historically operated a predominantly Boeing fleet, but continued growth and fleet renewal created a need for newer, efficient narrow-body aircraft.
Action taken
The airline placed its first direct Airbus order for A321neo aircraft and subsequently expanded and revised the order.
Aftermath
The decision marked a strategic shift toward Airbus and supported replacement of older Boeing 737-300 and 757-200 aircraft.
2020
Suspend regular flying during the COVID-19 crisisStrategyBackground
Government restrictions and the collapse in international leisure demand made normal scheduled operations impractical.
Action taken
Jet2.com suspended most flight operations while continuing selected repatriation services.
Aftermath
The downturn led to pilot redundancies and a temporary contraction before the airline rebuilt its network and resumed base expansion.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Jet2 launches insurance policy with Covid-19 cover[3]
Jet2.com launched an insurance policy that includes cover for Covid-19-related cancellations and overseas medical claims. The article says coronavirus cover was added to all policies purchased on or after April 9, 2020.
Sources3 sources
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