Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will launch a new base at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) starting March 26, 2026, marking their 14th UK base. The airline plans to station six aircraft there, including five Airbus A321neos, and will offer flights to 29 popular sunshine destinations.
This development will create over 300 direct jobs in various roles such as flight deck, cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations. It represents a significant investment in the region and introduces the first major leisure airline presence at Gatwick since 2020.
Currently, Easyjet dominates Gatwick's market share with 38% of seat capacity, followed by British Airways with 16%. Jet2 presently operates in London through Stansted and Luton airports, holding 6.1% and 2.6% of seat capacity respectively across its network.
"Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2," said Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.
This move positions Jet2 as the largest newly based airline at Gatwick in this century, expanding its footprint in the London area significantly.
Summary: Jet2 launches a new base at Gatwick in March 2026 with six aircraft and 29 routes, creating over 300 jobs and becoming the largest new airline base there this century.