Aviation minister Mike Kane MP has praised Jet2.com’s “leadership” in training “the aviators of the future”, as well as its role in decarbonisation and economic growth.
He made his comments as he visited the airline’s head office at Leeds Bradford airport on Thursday (February 27) to learn more about the airline’s award-winning operations, as well as its sustainability strategy and economic contribution.
The minister toured Low Fare Finder House, where many of Jet2.com’s operational teams are based, and met chief executive Steve Heapy and corporate affairs and sustainability director David Neill.
On a tour of Jet2.com’s maintenance hangar at the airport, he met several Jet2.com engineering colleagues and engineering apprentices – and saw how the hangar helps to ensure Jet2.com’s fleet of 135 aircraft will deliver the company’s biggest ever flights and holidays programme this year.
With Jet2.com employing thousands of people in Leeds and across Yorkshire, the minister also heard about the work being done to develop careers in the region.
More than 200 apprenticeships have been created across aviation, engineering, IT, marketing and finance, and several engineering apprentices spoke to the minister.
Heapy said: “We were delighted to welcome the aviation minister and show him some of the many elements that enable us to run our award-winning airline.
“He saw first-hand the work we do to support our busy flying programme, and we discussed some of the actions detailed in our sustainability strategy, as well as key levers needed to drive decarbonisation such as airspace modernisation and SAF [sustainable aviation fuel].”
The minister added: “It was a pleasure to join Jet2 at Leeds Bradford airport to see the sheer scale of their operations and discuss their plans for decarbonisation and economic growth.
“They are showing fantastic leadership in training and upskilling apprentices, helping to shape the aviators of the future, and their work supports hundreds of jobs and boosts the local economy.”
Main picture: Mike Kane MP, left, with Steve Heapy
