Jet2 Establishes New Base at London Gatwick Airport
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will launch operations at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) in March 2026, marking their 14th UK base. The airline plans to station six aircraft there, including five Airbus A321neos, and offer flights to 29 sunshine destinations.
Launch and Operations
The first flights will begin on March 26, 2026, coinciding with the Easter season. This expansion is Jet2's first major leisure airline presence at Gatwick since 2020, making it the largest new based airline at the airport this century.
Market Context
Currently, EasyJet dominates Gatwick with 38% of seat capacity, followed by British Airways at 16%, according to data from Aviacionline via Cirium. Jet2’s operations in London are presently split between Stansted (6.1%) and Luton (2.6%), with its largest UK bases being Manchester (16.2%), Birmingham (8.2%), and Newcastle (7.1%).
Job Creation and Investment
This expansion will create over 300 direct jobs in various roles such as flight deck, cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations, demonstrating a strong commitment to regional investment.
"Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2," said Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.
Author's summary: Jet2’s launch of a new base at Gatwick with six aircraft and 29 destinations will create over 300 jobs, expanding their UK network and marking a milestone for leisure airlines at the airport.