The airline and operator has put 29 destinations on sale for summer 2026, with the first flight departing for Tenerife on 26 March.

Jet2 will base five brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft at Gatwick, flying to mainland Spain, the Canaries, the Balearics, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus. A sixth aircraft based overseas will also serve the airport.

Jet2 said the decision to go into Gatwick would create more than 300 direct roles with Jet2, as well as "hundreds" more indirect roles.

Steve Heapy, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief executive, said it had long been Jet2's ambition to launch from Gatwick. "We see this as a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate our growth from the UK’s largest beach and city leisure destination airport," said Heapy.

"We know all too well how much demand there is among customers and independent travel agents for us to operate our flights and holidays from London Gatwick, so it is fantastic to be able to share that we are here and ready to meet their travelling needs."

Heapy added Jet2 would likely look to expand its Gatwick programme promptly once it's up and running. "We know bringing the Jet2 formula to London Gatwick will be a game-changer for customers and we are looking forward to a hugely successful future from our newest UK airport base."

Jet2 has rapidly expanded its network of UK bases in recent years, going into Bristol, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Luton and now Gatwick airports. It means the airline and operator will, from next March, operate from three of London's five airports – Stansted, Luton and Gatwick.

Jet2 said with around 85% of the UK population already living within a 90-minute drive of one of its existing bases, its Gatwick launch would ensure its flights and holidays are "within easy reach of even more UK households".

Gatwick chief executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit said Jet2's arrival marked "an exciting new chapter" for Gatwick and passengers in the south east of England, adding Jet2 would arrive at Gatwick at a pivotal time for the airport as it seeks to bring its back up runway into routine use.