‘Competition results in better value’ says Jet2 at Gatwick launch

Jet2 said its arrival at Gatwick airport will result in “better quality and better value” for holidaymakers as competition for passengers hots up.

 

The leisure airline has secured slots for six aircraft following the release of additional capacity by the airport, taking the total number of Jet2 bases across the UK to 14.

 

Gatwick currently serves a catchment area of almost 15 million people who can access it by road or rail within 60 minutes.

 

The airline said in a statement: “With around 85% of the UK population already living within a 90-minute drive of Jet2’s existing bases, establishing this new and complementary presence at London Gatwick will bring Jet2’s Atol-protected holidays and award-winning flights within easy reach of even more UK households.”

 

More: Jet2 taps into ‘whole new group’ of holidaymakers with Gatwick base

 

Asked on a Travel Weekly webcast about the challenge to rival operators, chief executive Steve Heapy said: “You can’t get too upset about it. We have been in bases when other people have launched there that weren’t there before, and you just get on with it.

 

“That’s life, that’s competition. I think competition is healthy. It results in better quality, better value for customers. None of us should be scared of competition.

 

“It has happened to us and we’ve come in here, and we will have to fight for customers, just as everyone else does. It keeps companies on their toes. It keeps standards and quality high, so it can be a very good thing.”

 

He said the airline will “react to opportunities” if further openings arise at other bases, noting: “I didn’t think we get slots at Gatwick. But you never know what’s around the corner.”

 

Asked about launching long-haul services, he said “never say never” but continued: “Right now, we’re not thinking about it. It is not something that’s on our radar.

 

“It is a very big commitment to make; wide-body aircraft cost an enormous amount of money, and we’ve got a lot of narrow-body aircraft coming into our fleet.

 

“We’ve got 14 bases, 14 ‘children’ to nurture and help to grow. That’s what we are concentrating on at the moment.”

 

He said the aircraft currently on order would replace those being retired and to help the network expand – but for a long-haul service, different types of aircraft would be needed, he added.