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Jet2 is celebrating 20 years of operating award-winning flights and holidays from Scotland.

The UK’s favourite airline and tour operator has reached the key milestone after seeing its first flight from Edinburgh Airport take off in 2006 and from Glasgow Airport in 2011. Since the start of operations from two of Scotland’s busiest airports, over 22 million customers have travelled with Jet2 and experienced its VIP customer service the company has become known for.

To mark the occasion, during the busy morning of departures from Edinburgh Airport today (22nd April) customers and colleagues came together to celebrate the long-established partnership.

The check-in area at Edinburgh Airport was adorned in red, holidaymakers received a famously friendly welcome from Jet2’s Red Team, and one lucky customer was surprised with a free pair of return flights with Jet2.com, to mark 20 years of the airline flying from the airport base.

When Jet2’s first flight took off from Edinburgh Airport to Murcia 20 years ago and from Glasgow Airport to Alicante 15 years ago, the airline and tour operator had just two destinations on sale from Edinburgh Airport and seven from Glasgow Airport. Since its inaugural flights departed, the company has experienced continued growth and success to become the UK’s third largest airline, with Jet2holidays taking the top spot as the UK’s largest tour operator.

As a result of that growth, Jet2 now has 48 destinations on sale from Edinburgh Airport. From Glasgow Airport, the airline and tour operator operates to 40 sun, ski and city destinations, offering customers and independent travel agents in Scotland fantastic choice and flexibility when it comes to reaching their favourite hotspots across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Canary Islands.

Jet2 continues to expand its offering from Edinburgh Airport, with three new routes on sale for Summer 2026. The new routes are to Girona, Kalamata and Kefalonia and means Jet2 is operating its biggest programme to date from Edinburgh Airport.

As Jet2 also celebrates 15 years of operating from Glasgow Airport, its expansion further into Scotland was a strategic move and marked the opening of the airline's eighth base, establishing it as a key leisure carrier in Scotland.

Jet2 has continued to grow its presence at Glasgow Airport and has two new routes on sale from the Scottish base for Summer 2026, including services to Dubrovnik and Kos for the first time.

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 Scotland, enabling the company to expand significantly at Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports. As a result of this industry leading customer service, Jet2.com has repeatedly won renowned accolades including being named a Which? Recommended Provider for 11 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 to 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.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Celebrating 20 years of operations in Scotland is a massive milestone for us and we are proud to be marking this significant event. Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports remain key UK airport bases for Jet2, and just like the last 20 years, we have no doubt that our offering from Scotland will continue to grow as we remain committed to our long-established partnership with the Scottish bases. As well as looking back at all that we have achieved over the last 20 years, we are looking ahead to even more success at Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports and look forward to many more years of operating our award-winning flights and holidays.”

Stephanie Wear, Chief Commercial Officer at Edinburgh Airport, said: “Jet2 has been a hugely important partner for Edinburgh Airport over the last 20 years.

“Since launching its first flight from Edinburgh in 2006, Jet2 has become a key part of our connectivity, providing millions of passengers with fantastic choice.

"The continued expansion of Jet2's routes, including new ones for summer 2026, demonstrates the strength of demand from Scotland and our shared commitment to offering passengers even more choice when they travel.

"We look forward to building on this partnership for many years to come."