TL;DR
- Jet2’s Winter 26/27 programme is now live with 4.4 million seats across 14 destinations from 13 UK airports
- Two new routes added: Bournemouth to Malaga and London Luton to Palma
- Bournemouth capacity is up 34%, Bristol up 7%, and the programme includes over 600 weekly flights during peak periods
- Payment plans are available for clients who prefer to spread the cost
If someone asks you today about winter sun options for late 2026, you can give them a proper answer. Jet2 has opened the doors on its largest winter sun programme in company history, and it went on sale earlier this week.
The programme covers 4.4 million seats across 14 destinations, flying from 13 UK bases. Travel dates run from November 2026 through to March 2027, and payment plans are available for clients who prefer to spread the cost over time.
What’s Included
The destination list covers the winter sun favourites that tend to be popular with UK travellers, plus a couple of new routes that open up options for clients in the South of England.
All four Canary Islands are included: Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura. Mainland Spain is covered with Alicante and Malaga, plus Palma in Majorca. Portugal gets two entries with Faro and Madeira. Turkey’s Antalya is there, along with Malta, Cyprus (Paphos), and Morocco with both Marrakech and Agadir.
During peak travel periods, Jet2 will operate over 600 weekly outbound flights across the network.
The two new routes are Bournemouth to Malaga and London Luton to Palma. Both are aimed at clients in Southern England who would otherwise need to travel to Heathrow or Gatwick. For families with young children or older travellers who prefer a smaller airport experience, having a local option can make a difference.
Worth Knowing: Regional Airport Growth
Bournemouth is in its second winter as a Jet2 base and now has 11 winter sun destinations on sale, representing over 110,000 seats. That’s a 34% capacity increase compared to last winter.
Bristol has also expanded, with over 270,000 seats available for Winter 26/27 (a 7% increase) and Madeira upgraded from one to two weekly services. East Midlands has nearly 350,000 seats on offer, with Morocco’s Agadir now operating throughout the entire winter season rather than only during peak periods.
Manchester remains the largest base, with 85 weekly flights during peak periods and all 14 destinations available. Birmingham and Leeds Bradford follow with 65 weekly flights each.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, noted that 85% of the UK population now live within a 90-minute drive of one of Jet2’s 13 bases.
The Practical Bit: Payment Plans and Booking Patterns
Payment plans are available, allowing clients to pay deposits and instalments rather than the full amount upfront. For anyone who wants to plan ahead but doesn’t want to part with a large sum in one go, that option is there.
Recent data from Travelopia Tailormade found that 42% of Sovereign’s winter sun bookings come from repeat clients, with many booking 12 to 15 months ahead to secure their preferred resorts and travel dates.
Tenerife is the most popular destination among repeat bookers, making up a quarter of all repeat winter sun bookings according to the same data.
What Clients Are Looking For
Winter sun covers a range of trips, from a four-night escape to Lanzarote in January to a two-week all-inclusive family holiday in Tenerife over February half-term.
Recent analysis from Away Holidays shows that the average length of stay for UK winter sun bookings is currently 6 to 7 nights, with a clear preference for upgraded accommodation. Travellers aged 35 to 55 make up the majority of bookings.
Gianni, Product Director at Away Holidays, noted that “January is becoming the new July for a growing number of British travellers… people are now prioritising experiences that offer sunshine, rest, and a break from the winter slump.”
Search trends support this. Searches for Tenerife are up 767% year on year, and Dubai searches have climbed 320%. The demand is broad and spans multiple client types.
What’s Coming Next
Jet2 has confirmed that details of its Ski, City Breaks, and Iceland programmes for Winter 26/27 will follow in the coming weeks. The winter sun release is the first phase of a broader programme build-out.
Agent Advantage Insight
This is helpful for clients who like to plan ahead or who have asked about winter sun before. Payment plans and the range of regional airports make it accessible for different client needs.
