London Gatwick will become Jet2’s newest base from March 2026, as the UK’s third-largest airline launches operations with six aircraft and a network of 29 sunshine destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean.
The move marks the largest new airline base launch at Gatwick this century, expanding Jet2’s footprint to 14 UK airports. The carrier will base five brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft at Gatwick—among the most fuel-efficient and quiet in their class—cutting fuel use and CO? emissions per seat by over 20%.
Jet2’s arrival will create more than 300 direct jobs in the region, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and ground staff, alongside hundreds of indirect roles in the local supply chain.
The airline’s first Gatwick flight will depart for Tenerife on 26 March 2026, just in time for the Easter holidays. Other destinations include Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
London Gatwick CEO Pierre-Hugues Schmit said the launch “marks an exciting new chapter” for the airport, adding that Jet2’s arrival enhances passenger choice and supports regional growth following approval for the airport’s Northern Runway expansion.
Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy called the move “a major milestone,” saying strong customer demand and proven popularity of Jet2’s holiday model make the airline’s arrival at Gatwick “a game-changer for customers across London and the South East.”