THE first Jet2 flight left Liverpool John Lennon Airport this morning (Thursday, March 28).

Jet2 and Jet2Holidays celebrated a milestone in their growth as the airline and tour operator waved off their first ever flight from their 11th UK airport.

The full flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport departed to Tenerife. This inaugural flight was followed by a flight to Lanzarote, with holidaymakers jetting off to the popular sunshine destination for the Easter holidays.

There were celebrations in the air at the airport for the first day of flying, as 100s of holidaymakers were treated to a VIP customer experience, including a red-carpet welcome and personalised gifts. As customers waited to board the first flight, a Beatles tribute band called The Beatles for Sale entertained them at an exclusive launch event, one lucky customer received a seven-night family holiday to Tenerife, and the first ten holidaymakers to check-in at the airport were surprised with a pair of Jet2.com flight vouchers.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We have got off to a flying start in every sense at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and are delighted to see our first flights take off today from our 11th UK airport.

“Since announcing the launch our award-winning flights and ATOL protected package holidays from Liverpool, our absolute focus has been on ensuring everything is ready to launch operations so we can showcase our award-winning product to customers across the region.

“The reaction we have received from customers and independent travel agents since going on sale from Liverpool has been truly phenomenal, and we look forward to continuing to enjoy enormous success and growth at our newest airport.

“We have built up a strong reputation for leading the industry when it comes to looking after customers, and from today holidaymakers across the region can experience our family friendly ethos, great value package holidays and award-winning customer service.

“Our formula is proven, and we are very excited to be bringing this to our new customers at Liverpool John Lennon.”

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have a total of 20 sunshine destinations on sale for Summer 24 from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with a fleet of four based aircraft flying customers to a choice of destinations across Mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Portugal, Madeira and Cyprus.

John Irving, CEO Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said: “Today is an important milestone in the airport’s history as we welcome the first of many passengers jetting off on Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ departures from Liverpool this summer.

“Following the announcement last May that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays had chosen Liverpool to become their newest UK departure airport, a lot of work has been going on to make sure that our passengers continue to enjoy our award winning Faster Easier Friendlier airport experience and we look forward to welcoming thousands of Jet2 customers over the coming months.

“Customers and travel agents from across the region have been asking to see Jet2.com and Jet2holidays commence flights from Liverpool for some time, so it’s great to see the first passengers jet off from here today, with exciting further growth planned, following more recent commitments for their winter and summer 2025 holiday programmes. Today marks the start of what I am sure will be a great partnership.”

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ Summer 24 Programme from Liverpool John Lennon Airport:

Mainland Spain

  • Alicante – up to four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday)

Canary Islands – highest frequency of services from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

  • Fuerteventura – up to two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)
  • Gran Canaria - up to two weekly services (Tuesday and Saturday) – exclusive route
  • Lanzarote – up to three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
  • Tenerife – up to five weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

Balearic Islands

  • Ibiza – up to three weekly services (Monday, Friday and Saturday)
  • Majorca – up to seven weekly services (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
  • Menorca – up to two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday) - exclusive route

Portugal

  • Faro – up to four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday)
  • Madeira – weekly Monday services - exclusive route

Greece

  • Corfu – up to two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
  • Crete (Heraklion) - up to two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
  • Kos – weekly Friday services
  • Rhodes – up to two weekly services (Monday and Thursday) – exclusive route
  • Zante - weekly Wednesday services - exclusive route

Cyprus​

  • Paphos – weekly Wednesday services

Turkey - highest frequency of services from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

  • Antalya – up to four weekly services (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday)
  • Dalaman – up to four weekly services (Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday)
  • Bodrum - up to two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)

Bulgaria – exclusive from Liverpool Airport

  • Bourgas – up to two weekly services (Monday and Thursday) - exclusive route