Jet2.com

Origins

Jet2.com Limited is a subsidiary of the Dart Group PLC, an aviation services and distribution group. The airline began operating commercial aircraft in 1983 under the name Channel Express, when it was purchased by the Dart Group’s current Executive Chairman, Philip Meeson. Initially a freight operator, from 2001 the airline also began operating passenger charter services using Boeing aircraft to international destinations on mainly short and medium haul routes.

Expansion

In 2003 Channel Express established the Jet2.com brand from Leeds Bradford International Airport. The re-branded Jet2.com began operating as a leisure airline with its first flight from Leeds Bradford to Amsterdam, which operated a twice daily rotation with two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. During 2003, further scheduled flights were launched to seven European sun and city break destinations.

In December 2004, a second base was opened at Manchester Airport with the airline operating from Terminal 1.

In 2005, Jet2.com opened a third base at Newcastle. Later in the year the company acquired two Boeing 757-200 aircraft, enabling it to fly medium-long haul destinations as well as carrying more passengers on popular existing routes. These aircraft helped the company to open two more bases at Blackpool (this base ceased operation in October 2014 due to airport closure) and Edinburgh.

In 2006 the company relocated from Bournemouth to Leeds and was renamed Jet2.com Limited.

Since 2006 the airline has acquired further Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft and opened a base at Belfast International Airport. A new base opened at East Midlands Airport in May 2010.

In 2007, sister company Jet2holidays was launched offering customers and travel agents ATOL and ABTA protected package holidays. Steve Heapy was Managing Director (current Chief Executive Officer of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays).

During November and December 2008 the airline operated four direct flights from Leeds Bradford to Newark Liberty International Airport using Boeing 757-200s, with a series of flights also planned from both Leeds Bradford and Newcastle during December 2010. Once again, Jet2.com re-introduced seasonal Christmas flights to New York during the 2012 winter season, however, this time flights would operate from Glasgow, East Midlands and Newcastle, in addition to Leeds. The seasonal flights to New York have continued annually from the four bases, with the addition of October flying dates in 2014.

In November 2008 Jet2.com changed its slogan from "The North's Low Cost Airline" to "Friendly Low Fares". This preceded the announcement of opening a hub at East Midlands Airport, the first of the airline's outside the North of England and Scotland. On 20 May as the base opened Jet2.com announced a number of new routes for summer 2011.

On 14 September, the airline announced an eighth base at Glasgow Airport would be opened in April 2011, with an initial nine routes. The base was opened on 31 March, slightly earlier than scheduled. In January 2011, the airline introduced the Boeing 737-800 aircraft into its fleet. This provided aircraft larger than its existing 737-300s yet smaller than its 757-200 aircraft. While not new the 737-800 aircraft are newer than existing aircraft.

October 2012 saw Jet2.com launch three new routes to Marrakech, Iceland and St Petersburg for April and May 2013 departures.

The airline then announced new routes to Fuerteventura and Verona for summer 2014 and further new destinations were also added for summer 2015 including Antalya, Malta and Kefalonia.

On 29 April 2015, sister company Jet2 City breaks was launched.

Jet2.com carried over 600,000 passengers in its first year of operation and over six million passengers during 2014, its highest recorded total, though this reduced slightly to 5.85 million in 2015.

On 17 September 2016 the airline received its first brand new Boeing 737-800 of the order for thirty made in 2015.

In September 2016, Jet2.com announced it would begin operations from Birmingham Airport and London Stansted Airport (the airline's first base in southern England) in March 2017.

In November 2016, Jet2.com opened its new maintenance hangar at Manchester Airport.

Company affairs

Jet2.com has its head office, Low Fare Finder House, in the grounds of Leeds Bradford International Airport. In 2006, the facility began construction to accommodate pilots, cabin crew, and "behind the scenes" employees.

In April 2013, Jet2.com moved its Customer Contact Centre, Finance, IT, Human Resource operations, Commercial and Marketing Departments into a new office, The Mint, Leeds city centre.

The airline also opened a new £9.5 million training academy in September 2014 at Euroway Industrial Estate in Bradford, UK.

Fleet

As of February 2017 the Jet2.com fleet consists of the following operated aircraft: