The Minister for Aviation paid a visit to Jet2.com’s Leeds headquarters and toured its multi-million pound training facility.
During his trip, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon met Jet.com chief executive Steve Heapy, managing director Phil Ward and commercial director Steve Lee.
They updated the government minister on the airline’s growth plans, including the launch of two new UK bases at Stansted and Birmingham and the addition of 34 new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft.
Lord Ahmad also nipped over to Bradford where he saw Jet2.com’s flight simulator and cabin safety and emergency procedures training centre for flight deck and cabin crew.
Jet2.com, which flew more than six million passengers in the last financial year, will be increasing its number of staff this peak season from 5,200 to 7,200 alongside its package holiday arm Jet2holidays.
Lord Ahmad heard that the company plans to recruit staff as well as invest in its current workforce.
Lord Ahmad, Aviation Minister, said: “I am delighted to have been able to visit Jet2.com, and particularly to have met the next generation of engineers, pilots and cabin crew at the airline’s dedicated training facility, seeing first-hand what goes in to their award-winning customer services. I welcome the investment they are making, allowing them to expand and grow here in Leeds, and across the UK, including at their new bases at London Stansted and Birmingham.”
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays added: “We were delighted to share our plans with Lord Ahmad. As well as demonstrating our success and commitment to delivering the best experience for our customers, we had a positive and wide-ranging discussion with the minister about a number of important issues affecting our industry.”