Travel agents share 'delight' after Jet2 announces Gatwick launch

Travel agents in the Gatwick area have welcomed news that Jet2 will offer flights and holidays out of the airport next summer, saying it will give clients more choice and potentially reduce prices.

 

The UK’s largest tour operator confirmed this morning that 29 destinations will be served from Gatwick for next summer, with the first flight departing to Tenerife on March 26, 2026, timed for the Easter holidays.

 

The full list of destinations covers mainland Spain, Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.

 

Triangle Travel managing director Rob Kenton described the move as “arguably the most significant announcement for the southeast leisure travel market in the last 10 years”.

 

“As a travel agency based in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, we see this as an opportunity that benefits our customers, offering more choice and greater accessibility,” he said. “While many of our clients prefer Heathrow, Gatwick is a major, easily accessible hub for our catchment area.”

 

“I think it will lead to increased competition from airlines and tour operators which typically translates to better value and service for the customer. Jet2 offers a massive, stable product range that directly addresses a gap that had been created in the market since the Classic Collection package demise, allowing us to confidently book packages with a trusted partner.”

 

Premier Travel managing director Paul Waters called the expansion announcement “fantastic news” for the miniple’s shops across Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey.

 

He said: “This development will further enhance our ability to offer customers even more choice and flexibility when booking their holidays. We’re really looking forward to building on our partnership [with Jet2] and seeing the positive impact this will bring to our customers and teams alike.”

 

Tricia Lester, head of retail at Ashdown Travel, which has shops in Surrey and Kent, agreed: “We were delighted to read the news this morning.

 

“With our branches conveniently located near Gatwick, we’re now able to offer an even greater choice of travel options, which is a fantastic benefit for our clients and Ashdown Travel.”

 

Designer Travel homeworker Ally Toner said she was “so excited” to wake up to the news of Jet2 expanding to Gatwick, calling it a “game-changer” for clients who currently fly out of Bournemouth or Luton with Jet2.

 

She said the additional competition for tour operators and airlines such as easyJet and Tui could potentially reduce holiday and flight prices for clients using Gatwick.

 

“I think it could be the start of a price war between the larger companies,” she said, adding: “Clients who use Jet2 love it because it is old-school and offers service that you don’t get on other airlines.”

 

Similarly, Haslemere Travel owner Gemma Antrobus said the move could have a positive impact on prices from a customer point of view.

 

“I am hoping this move will help to regulate prices as a result of more competition out of Gatwick. We see such incredibly high prices [out of Gatwick] in the summer, but with another airline coming in it might help stabilise some of the prices and that has a knock-on effect for all holidays, luxury or not,” she said.

 

She queried whether the decision to add a further ten flights a week to Majorca out of Gatwick could be potentially sensitive based on current fears of overtourism but added: “If the independent operators we work with can also package Jet2 flights, then that would be great."

 

Katie Culver, manager of Castaways based in Tadworth, Surrey, said the agency was now looking to set up a contract with Jet2.

 

“We are very excited about this news; it will be good for us as we are near Gatwick and we are hoping to set up a contract with Jet2 in the next week or so,” she said.

 

Similarly, Martyn Fisher, owner of Greenstar Travel in Claygate, Surrey, said: “We will sign up to work with Jet2 although we tend to do more long-haul, tailor-made holidays. From a consumer point of view it gives more choice and it might help on prices."

 

He added that the move might also help southeast England based agents who worked with Classic Collection prior to its closure and needed other choices for clients.

 

ArrangeMY Escape general manager Jennifer Lynch said: "As a travel agent, I love seeing this as it opens more options for clients and encourages healthy competition that helps keep prices down. Now that Jet2 has expanded into the London area, could a Welsh base be next?"