Waving customers off from Jet2holidays’ new base at Bristol airport was a “huge shot in the arm” and “reminded me what I love about this job”, according to boss Steve Heapy.
Speaking after the operator’s first flight to Majorca had just departed, Heapy said: “It has given me the biggest lift this morning to see customers’ happy faces boarding our aircraft, and happy colleagues back doing what they do best – giving great service and looking after our customers.”
He added that the aircraft had been full, saying: “Customers were just so happy to be travelling again. They were desperate to get away and to be free and they all had that ‘going on holiday’ look on their faces, whether it was older couples or families with young kids. Our colleagues were giving out goody bags and everyone was in such a good mood. It was really lovely.”
More: Jet2 takes off from Bristol airport
Jet2holidays announced its new base at Bristol last year and had hoped to start operations in April 2021.
A second flight was due to leave for Menorca on Friday afternoon.
Heapy added: “We have 40 destinations on sale from Bristol but are starting with the Balearic islands. Hopefully that will be increasingly as the green list gets more extensive or the requirement to quarantine from amber destinations gets lifted.”
The UK’s second largest holiday group hopes to attract customers from the southwest of England and Wales.
The company has 40 sun, city and ski destinations on sale across the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and continental Europe from Bristol.