Leeds-based Jet2 plc announced that it will begin scheduled flying from London Gatwick Airport for the first time from late March 2026.
“The agreement will bring Jet2 to the world’s busiest single runway airport having secured slots for six aircraft following the release of additional capacity by the airport,” said Jet2.
“Five Airbus A321neo aircraft will be based at London Gatwick, with a further aircraft positioned overseas.
“This development marks a transformational next step in Jet2‘s ambitions, further underpinning and accelerating its growth strategy and expanding its presence in the South of England, while also taking the total number of Jet2 bases across the UK to 14.
“London Gatwick currently serves a catchment area of almost 15 million people who can access it by road or rail within 60 minutes – 7 million of whom live within 30 miles – and has become the UK’s leading airport for beach holidays and city breaks, with more short and mid-haul beach holiday departures than any other UK airport.
“With around 85% of the UK population already living within a 90-minute drive of Jet2‘s existing bases, establishing this new and complementary presence at London Gatwick will bring Jet2‘s ATOL-protected holidays and award-winning flights within easy reach of even more UK households.
“London Gatwick represents a key component of Jet2‘s longer term growth and value creation plan and we are pleased that this valuable opportunity has arisen earlier than management’s original expectations.
“Consequently, to fully capitalise on this development there will be a meaningful step-up in short-term investment to firmly establish Jet2‘s operations and market leading customer service at London Gatwick.
“In the balance of FY26, the Group will incur promotional and resourcing start-up costs ahead of operational launch in March 2026, whilst in FY27 it will substitute three short-term leased (ACMI) aircraft into its existing bases in order to release Airbus A321neos for the London Gatwick operation.
“In FY28 the higher cost ACMI aircraft will be replaced with new, more efficient A321neo aircraft from our pre-existing Airbus delivery stream. The Group expects the London Gatwick operation to move into profitability in FY29 and to deliver meaningful profit growth thereafter.
“Looking further ahead, the agreement also provides Jet2 with a strong strategic foothold to benefit from future expansion at London Gatwick, including the potential introduction of a second runway.”
Jet2 plc 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.
“This development represents a transformational change in our addressable market underscoring the scale of the opportunity, and we are thrilled to be able to introduce our award-winning Customer First service from London Gatwick next year.
“While establishing our holiday operations and service will understandably take time and investment in the short term, we expect to deliver meaningful profit growth in the longer term, in line with our People, Service, Profits philosophy.”