Jet2 has this week revealed the major announcement of launching flights and holidays to Egypt, highlighting it’s continued success as an airline on the continued rise.
From February 11, 2027, the UK carrier will start off big, operating up to 18 flights per week from six different airports.
They are as follows:
Hurghada:
- Birmingham Airport – two weekly flights (Tuesday and Saturday) operating from 13th February 2027.
- East Midlands Airport – weekly Saturday flights from 13th February 2027.
- Glasgow Airport – weekly Thursday flights operating from 11th February 2027.
- Leeds Bradford Airport – weekly Sunday flights from 14th February 2027. This is an exclusive Jet2 route.
- London Stansted Airport – two weekly flights (Monday and Friday) operating from 12th February 2027.
- Manchester Airport – two weekly flights (Wednesday and Sunday) operating from 14th February 2027.
Sharm-El Sheikh:
- Birmingham Airport – two weekly flights (Monday and Friday) operating from 12th February 2027.
- East Midlands Airport – weekly Friday flights operating from 12th February 2027.
- Edinburgh Airport – weekly Tuesday flights operating from 16th February 2027.
- Leeds Bradford Airport – weekly Saturday flights operating from 13th February 2027.
- London Stansted Airport – two weekly flights (Thursday and Sunday) operating from 11th February 2027.
- Manchester Airport – two weekly flights (Wednesday and Saturday) operating from 13th February 2027.
CEO Heapy: Egypt A Brand New Destination for Jet2…
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said the following on this major announcement in flights to Egypt from 2027:
“We are absolutely thrilled to be giving customers even more choice thanks to the launch of Egypt as a brand-new destination.”
“With year-round availability to the magical destinations of Hurghada and Sharm-El-Sheikh, we are giving holidaymakers fantastic choice in two iconic holiday hotspots, and we cannot wait to get started.”
“We are incredibly excited about these new destinations, and we know how popular they will be with our customers, based on the demand out there.”
“To celebrate our latest destination, we have also launched a special offer on all holidays to Egypt, so holidaymakers can get away for less.”
“This latest expansion demonstrates the strength of our growing business, and it comes on the back of customers choosing to travel with us time and time again.”
“Our award-winning proposition clearly continues to delight holidaymakers, and we look forward to welcoming even more customers onboard thanks to the launch of these two brand-new destinations.”
An Airline on the Continued Rise…
Over the last few years, Jet2 has appeared to have thrown the whole kitchen sink at growth.
The airline has launched new operations out of the likes of Liverpool Airport, London Luton and Bournemouth Airport which is performing well, and London Gatwick will be the next new base to open for the carrier, taking on the likes of easyJet and others from Summer 2026.
For London Luton, there are plans to add a further aircraft there from Summer 2026 as they look to increase their footing there.
For the half year ending September 30th, Jet2 has produced some solid results already, which has no doubt fuelled the plans to expand into Egypt:
- Revenue for HY26: £5.3bn (5% higher than FY25).
- Operating Profit for HY26: £715.2m (2% higher than FY25).
- Passenger Numbers: 14.09m (Increased from 13.34m in 2024).
And the growth doesn’t just stop there. Over the course of HY26, Jet2 has received nine Airbus A321neo aircraft, with one additional expected over the Winter 2025/26 period.
Winter 2025/26 seat capacity is currently 7.7% higher than Winter 2024/25 at 5.5 million seats on offer, so some solid growth there as well.
Going into Summer 2026, the number of Airbus A321neo aircraft will rise from 23 to 31 aircraft, showing steady progress in fleet and route growth as a result.
Will Competitors Such as easyJet Tremble?
Jet2, when you look back at their growth plans over the last few years including the new news about Egypt, has really been something.
And that could very well be a concern for competitor easyJet, who are in the flights and holidays space currently.
After all, the mentioned plans to launch a base at London Gatwick was strategically unveiled on easyJet’s 30th birthday.
Despite this, easyJet remains in a very solid space at the moment.
Their FY25 profit before tax was recorded at £665m, which is an increase of nine per cent year-on-year, with their Holidays wing delivering around £250m of that, a whopping 32% profit growth too.
Whilst Jet2 has been quite established in the holiday space, easyJet has been performing well, and already operates flights and holidays to Egypt as well.
What we are beginning to see is quite an interesting three way battle develop between easyJet, Jet2 and TUI out of the UK, which is great from a competitive point of view, with lots more scope for more competitors to throw themselves into the fold.
But for the likes of easyJet, they don’t seem to be trembling. If anything, they are seeing the same level of demand that Jet2 and TUI are in this space.
Back to Jet2, However…
The Jet2 announcements of Egypt flights and holidays are reflective of the continued successes the company has experienced over the last few years.
Things remain very hopeful and optimistic in their world, with continued growth expected in the years to come.
As more aircraft are delivered, this will unlock more potential and growth for the company, who literally at the moment are trying to service any UK airport in the country with the infrastructure and catchment area to hotter destinations.
With 18x weekly flights being added into Egypt from February 2027, it will be interesting to see how they fare against the likes of easyJet and TUI, and to see whether they will bulldozer their way through the competition.
It is extremely clear that despite economic pressures across the UK & Europe, people are still wanting to travel and go on holiday, which is benefitting the likes of Jet2, TUI and easyJet.
At the moment, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for such expansion in flights and holidays.
But what we are seeing from Jet2 is that considered, careful, but effective approaches to growth, which has steadied them well within this sector over the years.
The question will be how long this momentum continues, and whether their continued rise will come to a plateau at any moment.
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