Ancala-backed Liverpool John Lennon Airport hosts first Jet2.com and Jet2holidays flights

The full flight departed to Tenerife, signalling the start of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays operating award-winning flights and package holidays from the airport. This inaugural flight was followed by a flight to Lanzarote, with holidaymakers jetting off to the popular sunshine destination for the Easter holidays.

The official arrival of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays at Liverpool Airport brings a new leading airline to Liverpool John Lennon Airport which increases the number of based aircraft at the airport to its highest number to date.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have a total of 20 sunshine destinations on sale for Summer 24 from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with a fleet of four based aircraft flying customers to a wide choice of destinations across Europe. This is a significant programme for the companies’ first summer of operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, representing 565,000 seats on sale and up to 54 weekly flights during peak periods.

Since putting flights and holidays on sale from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the companies have reported phenomenal demand from customers and independent travel agents. As a result, the airline and tour operator have already added more routes and aircraft to their programme for Summer 25. This means an even bigger programme of flights and holidays for next summer, with three brand-new destinations (Malaga, Malta and Reus) and over 730,000 seats on sale, representing a capacity increase of over 28% compared to Summer 24. An additional aircraft will come into operation to support this growth, meaning a fleet of five-based aircraft.

The companies have also recently announced the launch of their first ever Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks Christmas Markets programme from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Flights and city breaks are now on sale from the airport to Krakow and Prague for Winter 24/25, meaning the companies have a total of ten winter destinations on sale for their first winter of operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ arrival at Liverpool John Lennon Airport has resulted in significant investment for the region too, with more than 250 new jobs created across flight deck and cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations.

This announcement contributes to Liverpool Airport’s continued growth journey that has been enabled with leading infrastructure manager Ancala’s capital and expertise. Since the infrastructure manager invested in the business in 2019, Liverpool Airport has signed major new airlines and increased average customer spend. It has also explored and expanded new revenue streams, such as bringing the fuel farm services provided to airlines in-house and securing planning permission for an on-site solar farm.

John Irving, CEO Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented:

“Today is an important milestone in the airport’s history as we welcome the first of many passengers jetting off on Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ departures from Liverpool this summer.

“Following the announcement last May that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays had chosen Liverpool to become their newest UK departure airport, a lot of work has been going on to make sure that our passengers continue to enjoy our award winning Faster Easier Friendlier airport experience and we look forward to welcoming thousands of Jet2 customers over the coming months.

“Customers and travel agents from across the region have been asking to see Jet2.com and Jet2holidays commence flights from Liverpool for some time, so it’s great to see the first passengers jet off from here today, with exciting further growth planned, following more recent commitments for their winter and summer 2025 holiday programmes. Today marks the start of what I am sure will be a great partnership.”

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said:

“We have got off to a flying start in every sense at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and are delighted to see our first flights take off today from our 11^th UK airport. Since announcing the launch our award-winning flights and ATOL protected package holidays from Liverpool, our absolute focus has been on ensuring everything is ready to launch operations so we can showcase our award-winning product to customers across the region.

“The reaction we have received from customers and independent travel agents since going on sale from Liverpool has been truly phenomenal, and we look forward to continuing to enjoy enormous success and growth at our newest airport. We have built up a strong reputation for leading the industry when it comes to looking after customers, and from today holidaymakers across the region can experience our family friendly ethos, great value package holidays and award-winning customer service. Our formula is proven, and we are very excited to be bringing this to our new customers at Liverpool John Lennon.”

You can hear Liverpool John Lennon Airport CEO John Irving explain exactly how Ancala has enabled the airport’s growth plans, here.