Jet2.com

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,[7] 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.

A Jet2.com Boeing 737-300 in the former livery

In 2002, 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 on 12 February 2003, 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 2004, a second base was opened at Manchester Airport with the airline operating from Terminal 1. The airline also acquired further Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft and opened a base at Belfast International Airport.

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 and Edinburgh.

In 2006 the company relocated from Bournemouth to Leeds and was renamed Jet2.com Limited.[8]

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. The base at East Midlands Airport opened in May 2010.[9]

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.[10] The seasonal flights to New York have continued annually and now run from five of its UK bases.

In 2010, the airline announced an eighth base at Glasgow Airport would be opened in April 2011, with an initial nine routes.[11] The base was opened on 31 March, slightly earlier than scheduled.

In January 2011, the airline introduced second-hand Boeing 737-800 aircraft into its fleet. This provided aircraft larger than its existing 737-300s yet smaller than its 757-200 aircraft.

Jet2.com carried over 600,000 passengers in its first year of operation and over nine million passengers during 2017; its highest recorded total.[12]

On 17 September 2016, the airline received its first brand new Boeing 737-800 of the order for thirty made in 2015.[13] 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.[14] In December 2016, Jet2.com announced that it had ordered a further four Boeing 737-800 aircraft, bringing the total on order to 34.[15] In 2019, Jet2.com received delivery of its 34th new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, taking its permanent and leased fleet size to over 100 aircraft.[16]

Jet2 aircraft grounded at Leeds Bradford Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019 Jet2.com carried a record 14.39 million passengers on 82,931 flights. This was an increase of over 18% over the year prior.

Due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, Jet2.com announced they were suspending flight operations until at least 15th July 2020.[17] The airline continued to operate repatriation flights for British citizens overseas.

In 2007, sister company Jet2holidays was launched offering customers and travel agents ATOL and ABTA protected package holidays.

On 29 April 2015, sister company Jet2CityBreaks was launched. In June 2017, Jet2.com launched Jet2Villas through its Jet2holidays brand.[18]

Jet2.com is wholly owned by Dart Group plc, a holding company based in Leeds, England. Its head office is located in the Low Fare Finder House on the grounds of Leeds Bradford Airport.

Low Fare Finder House, the head office of Jet2.com

Jet2.com has its head office, Low Fare Finder House,[20] located on the grounds of Leeds Bradford International Airport. Construction of the facility broke ground in 2006, in order to accommodate pilots, cabin crew, and back of house operations.[21]

In April 2013, Jet2.com moved its Customer Contact, Finance, IT, Human Resources, Commercial and Marketing departments to a new office; "Holiday House" located within the city centre of Leeds.[22] In September 2014, the airline opened a new £9.5 million training academy at Euroway Industrial Estate in Bradford.[23]

As of April 2020, the Jet2.com fleet not including wet/damp leases consists of the following aircraft.[35]