Jet2.com has threatened legal action against new airline JetXtra.com, claiming that its name is “misleading and confusing” for customers.
Jet2.com said the start-up airline’s name could lead customers to believe that JetXtra.com was in some way associated with its own business.
The new airline, which is offering flights from Humberside airport to Malaga and Palma from June, said it had received a solicitor’s letter from Jet2.com asking it to surrender all rights to the JetXtra name by tomorrow (Thursday).
Daniel Reilly, director at JetXtra.com, said: “This would be a big setback for JetXtra.com and mean a complete rebranding was required.
“The only similarity between our companies is the word ‘jet’. Our logos and websites are completely different. And Jet2.com operates from Leeds Bradford airport, serving and targeting a different market to that of JetXtra.com.”
He added: “We give the general public a lot more credit and do not believe they would confuse our two companies.”
A spokesperson for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.com said: “Jet2.com and Jet2holidays fully support free and fair competition in the airline and travel industry.
“However, our concern is that recently announced JetXtra.com is a company name very similar to our long-established names.
“There is a real possibility that a significant number of consumers would be misled or confused into believing that JetXtra.com is associated with Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.com and the products and services we offer to consumers across the whole of the North of England, including the Humber and Lincolnshire.
“This is why we have contacted JetXtra.com and asked them to change their name.”