Jet2.com celebrates 20 years of award-winning flights from Newcastle Airport

Jet2.com is celebrating 20 years of operating award-winning flights from Newcastle Airport, after- first taking off from the Airport base in September 2005.

Marking two decades of continued success and growth, the leading leisure airline celebrated with customers and colleagues, putting on the type of VIP customer experience that has seen the company continue to thrive at the airport.

Jet2.com has expanded from just one aircraft flying to two destinations from Newcastle back in 2005, to nine aircraft and 54 destinations on sale today. At launch, the airline employed just ten colleagues at the airport whereas that number is now 800! As a result of this growth, Jet2.com now operates the largest flying programme from Newcastle International Airport, with more seats on sale throughout 2025 than any other carrier.

Over the last two decades, almost 15 million happy holidaymakers have travelled on holiday onboard a Jet2.com flight from Newcastle International Airport, and the leading leisure airline marked today’s huge milestone with a special celebration for customers and colleagues.

Customers were treated to the famous Jet2.com and Jet2holidays VIP experience, receiving a red-carpet welcome at check-in complete with celebratory cupcakes. While checking in, 20 holidaymakers were also surprised with free flight vouchers, to mark 20 years of the airline flying from the airport base.

In addition, one lucky customer was gifted a seven-night Jet2holiday to the Globales Lord Nelson in Menorca, personally presented to them onboard a flight to Izmir by Chief Operations Officer, Phil Ward.

On the back of its continued growth, Jet2.com is continuing to show its commitment to the region by adding a range of new destinations for Winter 25/26 and Summer 26 from Newcastle International Airport, providing even more choice and flexibility to local customers and independent travel agents.

For Winter 25/26, the airline has introduced new routes to Budapest, Chambery, Marrakech and Gdansk from the airport. Looking ahead to Summer 26, operations will commence to the sunny hotspots of Agadir, Barcelona, Porto, Palermo and Preveza, marking the company’s biggest ever summer from Newcastle International Airport..

Since establishing its presence in the North East, Jet2.com has seen eight of its loyal colleagues proudly serve the full 20 years at Newcastle International Airport, including Cabin Crew Base Manager, Lisa McGarry.

Commenting on the milestone, Lisa said: “I’ve seen the business grow immensely since I first joined as one of a few Cabin Crew members. After a year, I was proud to be promoted to Performance Trainer before progressing to my current role as Cabin Crew Base Manager. It’s a great feeling coming into work knowing there is support available as the team ethic at Newcastle is amazing. With a fantastic team who all work hard to give our customers the very best experience, I know that every day will be rewarding.”

Over the past two decades, Jet2.com’s VIP customer service, friendly low fares, 10kg hand baggage allowance and great flight times have proven popular amongst customers travelling from the North East, enabling the company to expand significantly at Newcastle International Airport. As a result of this industry leading customer service, Jet2.com has repeatedly won renowned accolades including being named a Which? Recommended Provider for ten consecutive years.

Now the UK’s largest tour operator, package holiday specialist Jet2holidays was launched in 2007 on the back of the airline’s success. With its ATOL protected package holidays combining a choice of 2-5 star accommodation, in-resort Customer Helpers, return transfers, plus flights including 22kg hold luggage, this award-winning formula has proven extremely popular amongst holidaymakers.

Top 20th anniversary facts:

• Over 1.7 million hot drinks and 800,000 chocolate bars have been served to Newcastle customers since the airline started operating from the airport base.
• Newcastle’s favourite onboard sandwich is the Ham & Cheese Toastie.
• The most popular onboard hot meal with Newcastle customers is the All Day Breakfast.

Leon McQuaid, Director of Aviation Development at Newcastle Airport, said: “Jet2.com has been a valued partner of Newcastle Airport for 20 years and we are delighted to celebrate this special milestone together. Since its first flight in 2005, the airline has gone from strength-to-strength and is now our largest carrier, with nine aircraft serving 54 destinations.

"This remarkable growth has not only given millions of passengers more choice when planning their holidays, but it has also created hundreds of jobs and brought significant investment to our region. It’s fantastic that Jet2.com is continuing to invest in the Airport with the launch of new routes to Budapest, Chambery, Marrakech and Gdansk in winter 2025/26, followed by Agadir, Barcelona, Porto, Palermo and Preveza in summer 2026.

"We are proud of what we have achieved together over the past 20 years, and we look forward to building on this success in the future.”

Phil Ward, Chief Operations Officer at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Today is a significant milestone in Jet2.com’s history as we celebrate two decades of operating award-winning flights from Newcastle International Airport.

"Our industry leading customer service means we have grown considerably since launching 20 years ago with just two routes on sale, to now offering 54 stunning destinations across all seasons. This anniversary provides the ideal opportunity to recognise all that we have achieved and as well as looking back we are looking to a bright future too at Newcastle International, as we continue to demonstrate our long-standing commitment to the region.

"I would like to give a big thank you to our fantastic colleagues, loyal customers and independent travel agent partners who have been instrumental in our continued success story.”