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Jet2’s inaugural flight to Samos departed from Manchester Airport this morning (Friday 1^st May), marking the start of the brand-new Greek route for Summer 2026.  

The flight signals the start of the UK’s consumer champion, Jet2, offering flights and holidays to the island of Samos for Summer 2026 – perfect for holidaymakers looking discover the beautiful Greek island that lies just off the coast of Turkey and is bursting with charm, from its golden-grained beaches to its lush green hills.  

Jet2 will operate twice weekly services (Tuesday and Friday) from Manchester Airport to Samos until 30^th October 2026, meaning customers in the Northwest can now access the sun-kissed destination.  

Holidaymakers can spend their days lounging by the glittering Aegean Sea, hiking through ancient ruins or enjoying delicious Greek fare at a cosy taverna. Between the charming town of Pythagorion or the peaceful village of Kokkari, there is always something to explore, with public transport links making it easy to access the variety of resorts and beaches. With stunning sunsets and a laid-back vibe, Samos is the ultimate place to relax, unwind and soak up the tranquillity of Greece.

To mark the inaugural flight to Samos, Jet2 held a celebration at the airport this morning. Holidaymakers travelling on the first flight were greeted with a VIP welcome at the boarding gate and one lucky customer was also surprised with a free pair of return flights, to help get them into the holiday spirit.   

Today’s inaugural flight will be followed by the first flight to Samos from Birmingham Airport on 4^th May and another one from London Stansted Airport on 7^th May. Weekly Monday services will operate from Birmingham Airport until 26^th October, and twice weekly services (Monday and Thursday) are on sale from London Stansted Airport until 29^th October.   

All these three routes to Samos are exclusive to Jet2, and the flying programme offers customers in these regions plenty of choice and flexibility when it comes to enjoying an authentic slice of Greece in early, peak or late summer. The size of the programme also makes Jet2 the largest operator to Samos, and it means the airline and tour operator is opening a new destination to the wider UK market. 

As a result of this new destination, Jet2 has expanded its Greek portfolio for Summer 2026, giving holidaymakers a choice of 26 destinations to enjoy and 15 Greek airports to fly to. With 130 routes on sale to Greece this summer, Jet2 is the biggest carrier from the UK to Greece, and this latest expansion follows continued demand from customers and independent travel agents looking to book some Greek sunshine.   

Next year, Jet2’s flying programme to Greece will expand even further thanks to the addition of Thassos for Summer 2027. As one of Greece’s best kept secrets, Jet2 will operate flights and holidays to Kavala International Airport from 11^th May to 1^st October, offering holidaymakers an idyllic escape in Thassos.  

Last week, 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. 

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “As we commence our biggest ever summer programme to Greece, we are pleased to see our first flight to Samos take off from Manchester Airport for Summer 2026. We are already looking forward to seeing our first flights depart from a further two additional UK airport bases, offering customers and independent travel agents fantastic choice and flexibility when it comes to enjoying a sun-kissed holiday. Samos is a fantastic addition to our portfolio, and since putting these new flights and holidays on sale they have been proven very popular with holidaymakers looking for a laid-back Greek island experience.”