Jet2holidays has encouraged agents to push its package holidays and said there is no upper limit to the amount of bookings that can be sold through the trade.
Speaking at the Jet2holidays annual conference, chief executive Steve Heapy told agents currently 25% of the company’s sales comes through the trade, down from 32% 12 years ago.
He cited agents leaving the industry and agencies closing down as the reasons for the decline but urged partners to push Jet2holidays sales as there is no limit to the amount of trade bookings the company will take.
More: Jet2holidays puts expanded summer 2024 city breaks programme on sale
Heapy said the top priority for Jet.com is to fill its aircraft and he would be “very happy” for the seats to be sold by agents.
“We have no upper limit on our travel agent business,” Heapy said. “Currently, 25% of our sales come through agents but that could be more.
“When I joined Jet2 in 2010, it was 32% but it has dropped off as big chunks of travel agencies disappeared.
“We would never say we want to increase direct business at the detriment of travel agents.
“We just want to sell holidays and when you’re running an airline the number one rule is fill the aircraft so we’re very happy for those seats to be filled by our agent partners.