Shares of Leeds-based Jet2 rose as much as 4% after it published a trading update for its AGM — and also announced it intends to move from the junior AIM stock market to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
The Leeds firm said the move to the main London stock market “reflects the group’s scale, continued evolution, strong track record and the board’s confidence in its long-term growth prospects, whilst providing a platform to support its future development and enhance its visibility with a broader range of UK and international institutional investors.”
Jet2 shares rose to around £15.15 to give the firm a stock market value of about £2.9 billion.
On trading, Jet2 said: “Since announcing our Preliminary Results on 8 July 2026, we have seen sustained demand for our award-winning Jet2 leisure travel products.
“Summer 2026 seat capacity is 7.6% higher than Summer 2025 at 19.9m seats, with booked-to-date passengers up 8.8% and growth across both package holiday and flight-only products.
“Customers have continued to book closer to departure throughout the peak summer period and, encouragingly, the combined booked average load factor to the end of August was 1.5ppts ahead of the prior year, reflecting disciplined capacity management, targeted investment in load factor and underpinned by attractive pricing.
“Our London Gatwick operation continues to perform ahead of our initial expectations, supported by a stronger-than-expected package holiday mix. Building on this encouraging start, we have increased the number of aircraft on sale from Gatwick to seven for Summer 2027 as we continue to execute our strategic growth plans in the South of England.
“Looking ahead to Winter 2026/27 which is at an early stage of its booking cycle, on-sale seat capacity is 8.0% higher than Winter 2025/26 at 5.9m seats, the increase primarily concentrated into London Gatwick with the addition of 0.4m seats, alongside disciplined growth across our more established bases of 0.6%. Early indications show similar booking trends to Summer with passengers still booking closer to departure.
“Our fuel and foreign exchange hedging positions continue to provide significant protection for the current financial year, with 93% of full year jet fuel requirement now hedged at an average price of $753 and over 90% of foreign exchange also hedged, delivering a high degree of cost certainty.”
On its intended move to London’s Main Market, Jet2 said: “The Board is also pleased to announce its intention to seek admission of the Company’s entire issued ordinary share capital to the equity shares (commercial companies) category (ESCC) of the Official List and to trading on the main market for listed securities (the Main Market) of the London Stock Exchange plc.
“The Company intends for Admission to occur before the end of its current financial year and will provide updates as appropriate in due course.
“Over the past decade, the Group has established itself as the UK’s leading tour operator and third-largest airline. Today, more than 90% of the UK population is within a 90-minute drive of one of our 14 UK bases and customer satisfaction consistently exceeds 90%.
“This growth has been achieved alongside strong financial performance, with Group revenue increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 19%.
“To reflect this track record of growth, the Board of Jet2 has agreed that now is the right time to move to the Main Market.
“Whilst acknowledging the highly important role AIM has played in supporting the Group’s development over many years, the Board believes the intended move represents a natural next step in Jet2‘s development.
“It reflects the Group’s scale, continued evolution, strong track record and the Board’s confidence in its long-term growth prospects, whilst providing a platform to support its future development and enhance its visibility with a broader range of UK and international institutional investors.”
Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said: “We have been encouraged by the sustained level of demand for both our holiday products through the peak summer season which gives us confidence for the remainder of the financial year.
“Jet2 is a business with strong foundations, a flexible and differentiated operating model and a trusted brand that continues to resonate with customers across the UK. Supported by a strong balance sheet and our People, Service, Profits philosophy, we remain confident in our ability to deliver sustainable, long-term profitable growth and to be the UK’s Leading and Best Leisure Travel business.
“As the UK’s leading tour operator and third-largest airline, we also believe this is the right time to announce our intention to move to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, reflecting the scale of the business we have built, our proven track record of delivery and the opportunities that lie ahead.”