In a major expansion of its services, British budget airline Jet2 has announced it will launch 26 new flights from London Gatwick Airport. This significant move establishes Gatwick as the airline's 14th UK base and opens up a wealth of new holiday options for passengers across the South East and beyond.
New Sunshine Routes from Gatwick
The airline confirmed it has secured slots for six aircraft at the airport, with five Airbus A321neo planes stationed at the West Sussex hub and an additional aircraft based overseas. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart for Tenerife on 26 March 2026, marking the start of operations.
Passengers will be able to jet off to a host of popular sunshine destinations next spring and summer. The full list of new routes from Gatwick includes:
Spain & The Balearics: Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca, Alicante, Girona, Malaga, and Reus.
Greece: Corfu, Crete (Heraklion), Kalamata, Kefalonia, Kos, Halkidiki, Preveza, Rhodes, Skiathos, and Zante.
Other European Hotspots: Faro (The Algarve) in Portugal, Antalya in Turkey, Malta, Naples and Verona in Italy, Paphos in Cyprus, Pula in Croatia, and Bourgas in Bulgaria.
Boosting Jobs and Holiday Choice
This expansion is more than just new routes; it represents a substantial investment in the local area. Jet2 confirmed that the new base will create over 300 direct jobs in roles such as pilots, cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations, with several hundred more indirect positions expected to be generated.
Steve Heapy, Chief Executive of Jet2, expressed his excitement, stating: "Today's announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2. For many years, our ambition has been to provide our differentiated, service-led, end-to-end product offering from London Gatwick, and 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."
A Welcome Addition to London Gatwick
The arrival of Jet2 has been warmly welcomed by airport officials. Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Gatwick's Chief Executive, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Jet2 to London Gatwick, marking an exciting new chapter for the airport and our passengers. Jet2's arrival brings even more choice and flexibility to passengers across the South East and beyond."
He also linked the news to the recent government approval for the routine use of Gatwick's northern runway, which is set to further expand connectivity and economic growth for the region.
This expansion solidifies Jet2's reputation as a leading UK airline. The carrier was recently named Best Airline at the Routes Europe Awards in 2025 and won The Telegraph Travel Awards for Best Short-Haul Airline for the third consecutive year. It has also been recognised as the Most Reliable UK Airline by AirAdvisor and has been a Which? Recommended Provider for ten years, thanks in part to its impressively low cancellation rates.
