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UK consumer champion Jet2 has set out how the government can work with the industry to keep holidays affordable for families and hardworking Britons, whilst creating skilled jobs and career opportunities across the UK.  

Speaking at a Jet2 parliamentary reception attended yesterday by the Aviation Minister, MPs, and stakeholders from across the aviation and travel industries, CEO Steve Heapy highlighted the importance of investing in careers and skills, policies that support future leadership development, and keeping holidays affordable. 

With 19,000 colleagues across the business, Jet2 demonstrated how attracting and developing the next generation of talent is critical, for instance through Jet2FlightPath, its fully funded pilot training programme. The programme currently has 60 colleagues in training, with a further 60 about to be appointed, opening aviation careers to those who do not have the means to fund the £100,000-plus cost of learning to fly.  

The airline also used the event to announce two new apprenticeship programmes: 

• Aviation Customer Service Operatives, a nine‑month programme creating at least 40 new opportunities across Jet2 bases and supporting seasonal colleagues to build long‑term careers. Jet2 is the first employer to deliver this shorter apprenticeship following recent reforms.  
• Mechatronics Maintenance Technicians, a four-year apprenticeship, training the next generation of engineers to maintain flight simulators at Jet2’s training centres in Cheadle and Bradford. 

These new programmes sit alongside almost 50 existing apprenticeship programmes across the business, spanning areas such as IT, operations, and engineering.  

Earlier in the day, a group of Jet2 apprentices and Jet2FlightPath trainees attended 10 Downing Street to highlight the need to back apprenticeships and training to advance the careers of people who might not otherwise have similar opportunities.   

Jet2 is the only UK airline delivering its engineering apprenticeship and training entirely in‑house, investing almost £100,000 per engineer on top of £27,000 of apprentice levy funding.  The airline can now service nine aircraft at any one time, but says with the right policies, it could expand that in‑house maintenance further, creating hundreds more skilled jobs and returning millions more to the UK Exchequer. 

Mr Heapy said: “Our 19,000 colleagues make our affordable holidays happen. They have helped us build our reputation as one of the most trusted travel brands in the world.  It just shows what you can achieve if you back skills, progression and great careers. We want to work with the government so more people can progress and succeed, no matter their background. 

At the reception Mr Heapy also warned that holidays should not be a luxury reserved for the wealthy. He pointed out how Jet2 has, for over two decades, followed a Customer-First strategy to ensure that families can enjoy its award-winning flights and holidays, with the company now flying millions of customers every year from 14 UK airports to 80 destinations. 

Recent growth, including the company’s launch at London Gatwick, means around 90% of the UK population now lives within 90 minutes of a Jet2 UK airport base, widening access to award‑winning flights and holidays alongside some of the best customer service in the world. 

An example of the company’s Customer-First strategy came last week, when Jet2 became the first UK airline and tour operator to confirm it will not introduce surcharges on any booked flights or holidays to cover cost increases, for example jet fuel, assuring customers that the price they book with Jet2 is the price they will pay. In an industry-leading move, Jet2 confirmed that it has removed the surcharge provision across all flights and holidays, even though the company has never previously applied them. 

Mr Heapy concluded: “Nothing beats the feeling of going on holiday and coming home all the better for it. Families plan, save for, and look forward to their holidays all year.  It is that one chance to properly switch off and spend time together. Yet, even in one of the richest countries in the world, it can be too expensive for some people and that should give us pause for thought. A holiday should not be something that only the rich can afford, and it is vital that policy enables everyone to enjoy that well-deserved holiday.” 

 The Jet2 More Than Just a Holidayreception gave parliamentarians the opportunity to meet Jet2 apprentices and experience Cineon’s VR pilot walkaround trainer, developed by Cineon and delivered in partnership with Jet2. Cineon were in attendance alongside Jet2 to demonstrate the CAA approved virtual reality pilot training solution, which Jet2 is the first airline to adopt. Attendees also heard from Keir Mather MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation. 

Aviation, Decarbonisation, and Maritime Minister Keir Mather said: “It’s vital we get young people excited about careers in aviation, and we strongly support Jet2’s commitment to investing in a diverse and dynamic future workforce, delivering affordable, quality holidays for the British public. 

“We’re investing £750,000 to break down barriers to opportunity and encourage the next generation to aim for the sky – furthering the UK’s proud history in aviation, and inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can succeed.”