Regional tour operator Jet2holidays affirmed its faith in the UK market by launching a first-ever luxury brochure today, but described 2012 as “not a year for taking risks”.
Jet2holidays’ Indulgent Escapes programme features more than 50 luxury resorts around the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and Madeira.
Managing director Steve Heapy said: “Luxury is becoming increasingly important. There is a significant market for it.” However, he told Travel Weekly: “Next year is going to be challenging. We are all aware of it. It is not going to be a year for taking risks.”
He said: “The economy is not in great shape. People are careful and worried about what they are spending money on. I don’t think the economy will improve. We are in for a challenging 12 months.”
Heapy added: “Official inflation is 4.5%-5%, but many customers are experiencing real inflation of 10% on stagnating wages. Look at what people have to spend their money on. Food inflation is running at 10% – fuel prices are rising 18%, train fares are going up 8.5%, when the average wage in the UK is about £25,000.”
He said late sales this summer had been unpredictable, but without the bargain prices reported in the consumer press. “It has been a strange year,” said Heapy. “Late sales have been sporadic, with good and bad weeks, but there has not been the bonanza of £99 holidays everyone was expecting.”
He added: “We have done OK. But people face tax rises and job cuts – a lot of people are under pressure.”
Jet2holidays sells exclusively Atol-protected packages, flying with sister carrier Jet2 from eight airports – Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackpool and Belfast International.