Increased competition offers many benefits

The launch of Jet2 flights and holidays from Gatwick always felt a case of when rather than if.

And as chief executive Steve Heapy told me on a Travel Weekly webcast last week, it seems various factors – notably availability of slots – aligned to persuade the airline and operator the time was right to continue its expansion beyond its heartland in the north.

As is often the case with new bases for major operators, the reaction from the trade in the southeast of England has been almost entirely positive. And one of the key reasons for that positivity is the expectation that greater competition at the Sussex hub will result in some attractive pricing in the months ahead.

It seems we have been talking about this month’s Budget forever but, as Dame Irene Hays says in this week’s edition, at least we can now hope for an element of certainty from next week when businesses and consumers alike will understand the full impact of the government’s fiscal plans. Regardless of the detail of the measures outlined by the chancellor next Wednesday, it seems beyond doubt that value will continue to be a prevailing factor in decision-making for the foreseeable future. 

The confluence of the Budget and Black Friday is certainly apt, and it remains to be seen how much of a driver the global deals frenzy will be for travel this year.
Whether your agency has a catchment area with a focus on Gatwick or not, increased competition and keener pricing can only be a good thing as we head towards peaks.

Comment from Travel Weekly, 20 November 2025 edition