JET2 is launching nearly 30 flights next year from a new UK airport – for the first time ever.
The airline confirmed they are to start operating from London Gatwick in 2026.
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Jet2 is launching their first flights from London GatwickCredit: Alamy
The airline will launch 29 new routes from Gatwick next yearCredit: Alamy
It is the biggest new airline to launch from London Gatwick since 2020.
And flights are already on sale, with the first flight taking off to Tenerife on March 26, 2026.
Other new routes include destinations across Spain, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Italy and Cyprus.
Bulgaria, Malta and Turkey will also gain new Jet2 flights from London Gatwick.
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The new routes will be operated by five new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
The addition of Jet2 flights at London Gatwick takes their bases in the UK to 14.
Jet2’s CEO Steve Heapy said: “Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2.
“For many years, our ambition has been to provide our differentiated, service led, end-to-end product offering from London Gatwick, and we see this as a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate our growth from the UK’s largest beach and city leisure destination airport.”
He added that they saw “high demand” from passengers wanting to travel with Jet2 from London Gatwick, which he called a “game-changer” move.
The news was also welcomed by London Gatwick’s Chief Executive Pierre-Hugues.
They added: “We are thrilled to welcome Jet2 to London Gatwick, marking an exciting new chapter for the airport and our passengers.
“Jet2’s arrival brings even more choice and flexibility to passengers across the South East and beyond, strengthening London Gatwick’s vision to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey.”
The full list of flight destinations launching from London Gatwick with Jet2 in 2026 are:
- Fuerteventura – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
- Gran Canaria – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
- Lanzarote – two weekly services (Tuesday and Saturday)
- Tenerife – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)
- Ibiza – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
- Majorca – 10 weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday and 2 x Sunday)
- Menorca – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
- Alicante – five weekly services (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
- Girona – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
- Malaga – four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday)
- Reus – three weekly services (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
- Faro (The Algarve) – ten weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, 2x Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday and Sunday)
- Antalya – three weekly services (Monday, Friday and Saturday)
- Corfu – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
- Crete (Heraklion) – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
- Kalamata – one weekly service (Wednesday)
- Kefalonia – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
- Kos – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
- Halkidiki – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
- Preveza – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)
- Rhodes – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
- Skiathos – one weekly service (Tuesday)
- Zante – one weekly service (Wednesday)
- Malta – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
- Naples – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
- Verona – one weekly service (Wednesday)
- Paphos (Cyprus) – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
- Pula – one weekly service (Saturday)
- Bourgas (Bulgaria) – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)
Earlier this year, Jet2 celebrated 22 years of flying, after first launching back in 2003.
This was followed by the launch of Jet2holidays in 2007.
And it isn’t only London Gatwick that has new Jet2 flights.
The airline launched their first flights from London Luton back earlier this year, with the take off to Majorca on April 1.
The Sun’s Head of Travel explains more…
By Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
SECURING slots at the UK’s second biggest airport marks the pinnacle of what has been an astonishing success story for Jet2.
In just a few short years the airline has gone from a tiny cargo airline to the UK’s largest tour operator.
Gatwick – the world’s busiest single-runway airport – will be Jet2’s 14th UK base and cements the airline’s dominance of the market and is the final piece in the puzzle in the south east of England.
From Jet2’s first flights in 2002 from Leeds Bradford, the airline first established themselves as a serious player by expanding into northern regional airports.
But the game-changing moment came in 2007 when it launched its package holidays arm, Jet2holidays. It began with an ATOL licence allowing it to take just 23,000 passengers to a modest 15 destinations.
It is now the UK’s largest tour operator with an ATOL covering more than SEVEN MILLION passengers.
Its strong, steady growth was given a boost with the failure of boost of both Thomas Cook and Monarch but the company’s success has also come from its relentless focus on customer service.
It rightly received praise for the way it looked after its customers in the pandemic, building vital loyalty and trust.
This is alongside another 16 destinations in Europe including Greece, Spain and Portugal.
It was the first new airline base or London Luton in 20 years.
The services will fly to 17 destinations across Europe, including Greece, the Balearic Islands and Portugal.
Boss of Luton Airport, Alberto Martin, said that today was the “start of a bright future” and “a day of celebration”.
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It is the first time in 20 years that a new base airline has arrived at Luton.
Jet2 was also named the Most Trusted Travel Company in this year’s Sun Travel Awards, while Jet2holidays was named the Best Short Haul Operator.
The first flight will take off in March 2026Credit: Alamy
