'Not just for the rich': Jet2 boss urges politicians to 'make foreign holidays affordable' as prices rise
The boss of Jet2 has warned that foreign holidays are becoming unaffordable to many as the Yorkshire company arranged an event in Parliament.
Speaking at a Jet2 parliamentary reception attended on Tuesday by the Aviation Minister Keir Mather, MPs, and stakeholders from across the aviation and travel industries, CEO Steve Heapy warned that holidays should not be a luxury reserved for the wealthy.
Last week, the Leeds-headquartered company became the first UK airline and tour operator to confirm it will not introduce surcharges on any booked flights or holidays to cover cost increases, for example jet fuel.
Mr Heapy said: “Nothing beats the feeling of going on holiday and coming home all the better for it. Families plan, save for, and look forward to their holidays all year. It is that one chance to properly switch off and spend time together.
"Yet, even in one of the richest countries in the world, it can be too expensive for some people and that should give us pause for thought. A holiday should not be something that only the rich can afford, and it is vital that policy enables everyone to enjoy that well-deserved holiday.”
Jet2 separately said in its latest results that holidaymakers are increasingly booking their trips at the last minute since the start of the Iran war amid increasing anxiety over the impact of the conflict and worries over jet fuel supply.
The Leeds-headquartered firm said summer passenger number bookings so far are up 6.2 per cent thanks to growth across its airline and package holiday business, but in a sign of mounting nervousness among holidaymakers, it revealed the “booking profile has become increasingly close to departure” due to the Middle East war.
It said it is well protected from the fuel cost spike caused by the Iran war for the important summer season, adding it is “maintaining frequent dialogue with our fuel suppliers and airport partners on fuel supply”.
The group said it expects to report a drop in operating profits to between £435 million and £440 million for the past year to March 31, down from £446.5 million in 2024-25, but said this was in line with market forecasts.
It has increased its summer programme for 2026 by 7.7 per cent to 19.9 million passenger seats.
The Parliamentary event also saw the company announce two new apprenticeship programmes, training the next generation of engineers to maintain flight simulators at Jet2’s training centres in Cheadle and Bradford.
Earlier in the day, a group of Jet2 apprentices and Jet2FlightPath trainees attended 10 Downing Street to highlight the need to back apprenticeships and training to advance the careers of people who might not otherwise have similar opportunities.
Mr Heapy said: “Our 19,000 colleagues make our affordable holidays happen. They have helped us build our reputation as one of the most trusted travel brands in the world. It just shows what you can achieve if you back skills, progression and great careers. We want to work with the government so more people can progress and succeed, no matter their background.”
Aviation, Decarbonisation, and Maritime Minister Keir Mather said: “It’s vital we get young people excited about careers in aviation, and we strongly support Jet2’s commitment to investing in a diverse and dynamic future workforce, delivering affordable, quality holidays for the British public.
“We’re investing £750,000 to break down barriers to opportunity and encourage the next generation to aim for the sky – furthering the UK’s proud history in aviation, and inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can succeed.”