Leading British tour operator and airline Jet2.com abd Jet2Holidays has announced the launch of operations from London Gatwick Airport, marking a major strategic expansion and its ninth UK base. However, the carrier’s 2026 summer programme paints a worrying picture for Türkiye’s tourism sector.
Jet2 will operate flights from Gatwick to 29 destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean — yet only Antalya appears on the list from Türkiye. The airline plans three weekly flights (Monday, Friday, Saturday) to Antalya, starting March 27, 2026, operated by new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
In contrast, the schedule heavily favours Spain and Greece, with 11 Spanish and seven Greek destinations featured. Major Turkish resorts such as Dalaman, Bodrum, and İzmir are notably absent — a development industry observers see as a setback for Türkiye’s visibility in the UK’s most competitive outbound market.
Spain and Greece dominate Jet2’s Gatwick list
While Antalya gets just three weekly frequencies, Majorca and Faro (Algarve) each receive ten flights per week, and Alicante five. The first Jet2 flight from Gatwick will depart for Tenerife on March 26, 2026, coinciding with the Easter holiday peak.
Jet2’s CEO: “A once-in-a-generation opportunity”
Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy called the expansion a milestone for the company:
“Today’s announcement marks an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring our award-winning flight and holiday offering to London Gatwick.”
Heapy emphasized strong customer and trade demand for Jet2’s “service-oriented, end-to-end holiday product,” adding:
“When we introduce Jet2 to new markets, we consistently exceed expectations. We are confident that the Jet2 experience at Gatwick will be a game changer.”
Türkiye’s market share under pressure
Jet2’s decision underscores the intensifying competition from Spain and Greece for the UK outbound market — both seen as easier, more predictable, and higher-yield destinations amid rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty.
While additional Turkish routes, such as Dalaman, may be added later, the current Gatwick plan suggests a limited role for Türkiye in Jet2’s immediate growth strategy. For Türkiye’s tourism stakeholders, this may signal a difficult 2026 season ahead in the UK market, traditionally one of Türkiye’s strongest sources of visitors.
Jet2’s summer 2026 programme from Gatwick:
• Fuerteventura – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
• Gran Canaria – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
• Lanzarote – two weekly services (Tuesday and Saturday)
• Tenerife – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)
• Ibiza – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Majorca – 10 weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday and 2 x Sunday)
• Menorca – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Alicante – five weekly services (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
• Girona – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Malaga – four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday)
• Reus – three weekly services (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
• Faro (The Algarve) – ten weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, 2x Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday and Sunday)
• Antalya – three weekly services (Monday, Friday and Saturday)
• Corfu – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Crete (Heraklion) – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
• Kalamata – one weekly service (Wednesday)
• Kefalonia – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Kos – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
• Halkidiki – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
• Preveza – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)
• Rhodes - two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
• Skiathos – one weekly service (Tuesday)
• Zante - one weekly service (Wednesday)
• Malta - two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
• Naples – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Verona – one weekly service (Wednesday)
• Paphos (Cyprus) – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
• Pula – one weekly service (Saturday)
• Bourgas (Bulgaria) - two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)