Days after naming Bournemouth as its 12th UK base, opening next spring, the first flights from its 11th – Liverpool’s John Lennon airport – took off on Thursday morning (28 March).
The inaugural Liverpool flight was to Tenerife followed by a second service to Lanzarote, reflecting demand for the Canary islands over the Easter holidays.
Hundreds of holidaymakers were treated to a VIP experience on Thursday morning, which featured a turn from a Beatles tribute band, where Jet2 gave away a seven-night family holiday and other prizes, including flight vouchers.
"We have got off to a flying start in every sense at Liverpool John Lennon airport, and we are delighted to see our first flights take off today from our 11th UK base airport,” said Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy.
The airline and operator has put 20 destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean on sale for this summer from Liverpool, including Gran Canaria, Menorca, Rhodes and Zante for a total of 565,000 seats.
And it has already pledged to up capacity at the airport next summer by around 28% to 730,000 seats with the addition of three new destinations – Malaga, Malta and Reus.
“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,” Heapy added.
Jet2holidaus has also launched its first Christmas markets programme from Liverpool, with flights to Krakow and Prague now on sale for winter 2024/25.
John Irving, Liverpool airport chief executive, said "a lot of hard work" had gone into ensuring a favourable experience for Jet2 passengers following the announcement last May it would base aircraft in Liverpool.
"We look forward to welcoming thousands of Jet2 customers over the coming months," he continued.
“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.”
The launch of flights from Liverpool comes after Jet2 on Tuesday (26 March) announced Bournemouth would become its 12th base next year. Speaking to TTG, chief executive Steve Heapy ruled out launching from Gatwick, and hinted Bournemouth could be its final UK base.
