Jet2.com is to base an additional Boeing 757 at Manchester Airport to help fill the gap left by the collapse of XL Lesiure Group.
The carrier’s ninth 225-seat 757 will be used to increase capacity on a newly launched Dalaman route and a service to Sharm el Sheikh as well as filling the void left by XL Airways, notably on its Tenerife and Heraklion services.
Jet2.com now has six aircraft stationed at Manchester: two Boeing 148-seat 737s and four 757s. The stationing of the latest aircraft at the airport will create 25 jobs.
The airline recently launched 22 new routes for summer 2009 across its six UK bases.
Chief executive Philip Meeson said: “At a time when many competitors are cutting back services and reducing capacity, we are increasing ours, not just taking advantage of gaps left by others, but expanding the capacity on our own popular routes.
“For example, since we launched Tenerife and Heraklion in Crete, sales have been so strong that we are putting on larger 757 aircraft to meet demand.â€
by Phil Davies
