JET2 Holidays plane. Photo: London Gatwick Airport London Gatwick Airport continues expansion with Jet2 addition. The third-largest airline in the UK will establish its new base of operations in the city starting in March 2026.
The company began operating in 2003 with just two aircraft and eight destinations. Today, it offers flights from 14 airports in the country to more than 75 destinations.
The company will operate six aircraft from the new base (and its 14th in number), and will launch a network of 29 flight routes to popular vacation destinations across the continent.
The new base will make Jet2 the largest airline to open a new base at Gatwick in decades, strengthening its presence in the south of England and expanding options for passengers and independent travel agents.
The launch event for the opening of the JET2 base at Gatwick. Photo: JET2The establishment of the new base will create over 300 direct jobs, including pilots, flight attendants, engineers, and ground crews, along with hundreds of additional jobs in the local supply chain.
The first flights are scheduled to take off on March 26, 2026, with the first destination being Tenerife, just before the Easter holidays.
The list of 26 destinations where Jet2 will fly to from Gatwick in summer 2026 includes Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.
Gatwick Airport in London. Photo: Shutterstock
The company's main base of operations is at Leeds Bradford Airport, where the company was founded and from which its first flight took off in 2003.
The subsidiary Jet2holidays, launched in 2007, has since become the country's largest tour operator, offering a variety of vacation packages and holding a license to carry over seven million passengers annually.
Jet2 is consistently praised for its outstanding customer service, and has been voted a "Recommended Carrier" for ten years running by consumer organisation Which?, the company says. Jet2 offers a VIP-style customer experience that includes comfortable flight schedules, a baggage allowance of up to 22kg, 2-5 star hotels, on-site representative services, transfers, free child seats, and full ATOL protection.
JET2 aircraft. Photo: London Gatwick Airport
Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Gatwick Airport Chief Executive:
“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.”
Steve Heapy, Jet2 CEO, added: "Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2. We know all too well how much demand there is amongst customers and independent travel agents for us to operate our award-winning flights and holidays from London Gatwick, so it is fantastic to be able to share that we are here and ready to meet their travelling needs.”