Jet2’s Liverpool operations off to a flying start as first flights depart
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) bosses celebrated the launch this morning (March 28) of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays services from the airport.
They waved off the first flight from the leisure airline and tour operator’s 11th UK base.
The full flight departed to Tenerife. This inaugural flight was followed by a flight to Lanzarote, with holidaymakers jetting off to the popular sunshine destination for the Easter holidays.
There were celebrations in the air at the airport for the first day of flying, as hundreds of holidaymakers were treated to a VIP customer experience, including a red-carpet welcome and personalised gifts.
As customers waited to board the first flight, a Beatles tribute band – The Beatles for Sale – entertained them at an exclusive launch event. One lucky customer received a seven-night family holiday to Tenerife, and the first 10 holidaymakers to check-in at the airport were surprised with a pair of Jet2.com flight vouchers.
The official arrival of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays in Liverpool further expands the companies’ UK footprint.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have a total of 20 sunshine destinations on sale for Summer 24 from LJLA, with a fleet of four based aircraft flying customers to a wide choice of destinations across Mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Portugal, Madeira and Cyprus.
The flying programme includes six destinations that are exclusive to Jet2.com and Jet2holidays from LJLA – Gran Canaria, Menorca, Rhodes, Zante, Madeira and Bourgas (Bulgaria).
This is a significant programme for the companies’ first summer of operations from LJLA, representing 565,000 seats on sale and up to 54 weekly flights during peak periods.
Since putting flights and holidays on sale from LJLA, the companies have reported phenomenal demand from customers and independent travel agents.
As a result, the airline and tour operator have already added more routes and aircraft to their programme for Summer 25. This means an even bigger programme of flights and holidays for next summer, with three brand-new destinations – Malaga, Malta and Reus – and more than 730,000 seats on sale, representing a capacity increase of in excess of 28% compared with Summer 24. An additional aircraft will come into operation to support this growth, meaning a fleet of five-based aircraft.
The companies have also recently announced the launch of their first ever Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks Christmas Markets programme from LJLA. Flights and city breaks are now on sale from the airport to Krakow and Prague for Winter 24/25, meaning the companies have a total of 10 winter destinations on sale for their first winter of operations from LJLA.
It is estimated that the arrival of the flights and holidays operator to LJLA has resulted in the creation of more than 250 jobs across flight deck and cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We have got off to a flying start in every sense at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and are delighted to see our first flights take off today from our 11th UK airport.
“Since announcing the launch our award winning flights and ATOL-protected package holidays from Liverpool, our absolute focus has been on ensuring everything is ready to launch operations so we can showcase our award winning product to customers across the region.
“The reaction we have received from customers and independent travel agents since going on sale from Liverpool has been truly phenomenal, and we look forward to continuing to enjoy enormous success and growth at our newest airport.”
John Irving presents Steve Heapy with a Beatles-style guitar
John Irving, LJLA CEO, said: “Today is an important milestone in the airport’s history as we welcome the first of many passengers jetting off on Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ departures from Liverpool this summer.
“Following the announcement last May that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays had chosen Liverpool to become their newest UK departure airport, a lot of work has been going on to make sure that our passengers continue to enjoy our award winning Faster Easier Friendlier airport experience and we look forward to welcoming thousands of Jet2 customers over the coming months.
“Customers and travel agents from across the region have been asking to see Jet2.com and Jet2holidays commence flights from Liverpool for some time, so it’s great to see the first passengers jet off from here today, with exciting further growth planned, following more recent commitments for their winter and summer 2025 holiday programmes. Today marks the start of what I am sure will be a great partnership.”
