TL;DR
- Starting 26 March 2026, they’re launching flights from London Gatwick to 29 sunshine spots across the Mediterranean.
- Six aircraft based at the airport, 300 new jobs, and a whole new booking option for agents across the South East.
- Worth knowing about if you’ve got clients in that catchment area.
Jet2 announced something they’ve been working towards for years. The airline is launching flights from London Gatwick, bringing its brand of no-fuss travel to one of Europe’s busiest airports!
The first flight takes off on 26 March 2026 to Tenerife, timed for Easter getaways. Five brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft will be based at Gatwick permanently, plus one positioned overseas. Each one holds 232 passengers, giving Jet2 serious capacity to work with.
This is Jet2’s 14th UK base, and it opens up their service to millions of people across London and the South East who previously had to travel to Stansted or Luton. For agents working in that region, it’s a welcome addition to the options you can offer clients.
What to Know About the Gatwick Catchment
Gatwick’s catchment area is massive. Nearly 15 million people can reach the airport within an hour by road or rail, with 7 million living within 30 miles. That takes in Greater London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire.
The airport has better rail links than either Stansted or Luton, with 21 million rail passengers using it each year. That matters for families juggling luggage, older travellers who prefer trains, or anyone who finds the M25 a bit much on a Friday afternoon in summer.
Before this, Jet2 has added bases in Bristol, Bournemouth, Luton, and Liverpool in quick succession. When Gatwick slots became available, it was the natural next step. CEO Steve Heapy called it “a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” which tells you how long they’ve been working towards this.
The carrier will operate 79 weekly flights across Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Malta. All the usual sunshine spots that your clients already know and love.
Worth Knowing: The Family Booking Shift
Recent ABTA research shows something interesting about family bookings. 55% of families with young children now book with travel professionals, up from 36% in 2019. These are families whose babies were born during the pandemic and are now reaching school age, creating a genuine increase in family holiday bookings.
Jet2’s Easter 2026 launch timing reflects this shift. They’re targeting half-term and school holiday traffic, when those families are actively searching for reliable, easy options. The carrier has built its reputation on being good with families, from simple pricing to genuinely helpful cabin crew, so this feels like the right audience at the right time.
Package bookings opened this week from £999 per person, with flight-only bookings opening 26 November. Jet2holidays customers get ATOL protection, low £60 per person deposits, and flexible payment plans. The partnership with Bangkok Airways makes multi-centre trips straightforward too, which works well for clients who want to mix beach time with a bit of exploring.
Here’s What’s Useful for Your Clients
What makes this announcement particularly relevant is Jet2’s distribution model. In their 2025 results, they reported that their holidays business continues to grow through trade partnerships, with agents remaining the primary sales channel.
They’re also reliably, well, reliable. Which? surveys consistently rank them at the top for customer service. When flights get delayed or cancelled, Jet2 tends to sort things out quickly and without drama. Clients tend to appreciate that reliability, especially during peak travel periods.
The carrier’s reputation means fewer complaints for you to field after booking, and happier clients who are more likely to book again. Aviation analyst Sean Moulton predicted that Jet2’s arrival will “benefit consumers with lower prices and better flight times,” which tracks with what usually happens when they enter a new market.
The Practical Bit: Timeline and Preparation
There’s plenty of time to get familiar with Jet2’s Gatwick routes before the first flight takes off. You can expect to see promotional campaigns, agent training sessions, and possibly some FAM trip opportunities between now and March.
The carrier has explicitly mentioned “strong and continued demand from independent travel agents” as one of the reasons for this expansion. They know their strength lies in partnerships with high-street and home-based agents, and Gatwick opens up a network they’ve been keen to work with.
If you’ve been positioning Gatwick departures for summer 2026 bookings, you now have another solid option to compare for your clients. Jet2’s service reputation and operational reliability make them a good fit for travellers who value reassurance, which is a growing segment of the market post-pandemic.
Agent Advantage Insight
Jet2’s Gatwick launch creates a new booking option for South East agents starting March 2026. Consider it for Easter, half-term, and summer family bookings, especially for clients who prefer Gatwick’s accessibility and Jet2’s reputation for straightforward, reliable service.
