Jet2holidays expects family market to weather inflationary pressure

Alan Cross, Jet2holidays’ director of travel agent relationships, has insisted families will continue prioritising holidays even as the Middle East conflict threatens to ramp up prices and the wider cost of living.

Cross dismissed any concern that rising costs would dampen demand for travel, saying: “Every bill in life has gone up, so why shouldn’t we expect it from the travel industry? It won’t hamper demand.”

He added: “For most people, a holiday is an essential – it’s not a luxury – to the extent that they’ll sacrifice other things to make sure they get a five, seven, 10 or 14-night holiday.”

Cross echoed the report from Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy that Turkey and Cyprus sales have collapsed since the US/Iran conflict escalated last month, but he said the overall market remained robust.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re prepared and stay in touch with our customers to take every opportunity to make bookings that are there today, primarily in the lates market – April, May and June,” he said.

“There is a demand for that there. Predominantly the western Mediterranean is stronger than the eastern Mediterranean, but it doesn’t mean the eastern Med isn’t booking at all – we’ve got strong sales in Malta and Bulgaria, which demonstrates this.

“Yes, Turkey and Cyprus are affected [by the Iran conflict] but people are still looking and we’re going to make sure we’re in touch with these customers who want those destinations – and when they’re ready to book, travel agents are ready to take the booking.”

Jet2holidays’ trade sales continue to grow, he added, albeit at a slower rate than historic levels.

“We’re not going to see the growth that we got in the early days, but what we’re seeing is growth in line with the forecast and the budgets,” he said.

He added he was pleased with how the 11th edition of the conference had gone.

“Every year we try to make it the best conference ever and I think we’ve done it again,” he said.