Due to ‘strong demand’ Jet2 and Jet2 holidays to expand the number of routes out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Tony McDonough reports

Jet2 and Jet2 holidays are to increase the number of routes out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) for winter 2025/26 due to “strong demand”.

March this year saw the first ever take-off for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays out of Liverpool with more than 20 routes for the summer season and a further eight for the winter season which begins in October.

Shortly after its LJLA launch the Leeds-based airline said it was so pleased with forward bookings that it had decided to expand routes and capacity out of Liverpool for summer 2025.

Now the comply has followed suit with next year’s winter programme, adding a further three routes and taking the total up to 11. It has put 180,000 seats on sale for the season. The full programme is:

• Tenerife (up to six weekly services)
• Lanzarote (up to four weekly services)
• Gran Canaria (up to three weekly services)
• Fuerteventura (up to two weekly services)
• Alicante (up to three weekly services)
• Antalya (up to two weekly services)
• Madeira (weekly services)
• Paphos (weekly services)
• Palma (up to two weekly services)
• Faro (up to two weekly services)
• Malaga (up to three weekly services)

Today’s announcement means that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are the first airline and major tour operator to put winter 2025/26 on sale, and the early release of the programme comes in response to demand from local holidaymakers.

In mid-April Irish carrier Ryanair responded to the Jet2 launch by expanding its own offering out of Liverpool. It is adding three new routes to its summer 2024 schedule out of LJLA taking the total to 32 in an investment worth £80m.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This growth has been driven by the fantastic response we have had to our flights and holidays for this summer and winter.

“Holidaymakers in the region have a choice of 11 destinations to choose from this winter 2025/26 from the base, and by launching our winter sun programme nice and early, we are also giving them the chance to book ahead and lock in their getaway, while spreading the cost.”