Jet2 boosts fleet to 100 aircraft with new ‘next gen’ Boeing 737

Holiday group Jet2 has completed a project to expand its fleet by welcoming the last of 34 brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The company, headquartered at Leeds Bradford Airport, now operates with 100 aeroplanes.

The latest was handed over to Jet2 during a ceremony held at Boeing’s Seattle Delivery Centre in the US.

Due to arrive in the UK this week, the next generation aircraft will be kitted out with bespoke seating and other finishing touches before welcoming its first passengers in the coming weeks.

Each 737-800 can seat 189 people and comes with a list price of $3.3bn (c.£2.53bn) – although Jet2 said it managed to negotiate a “significant discount”.

It is capable of flying around 5,500km in a single trip, which Boeing says is around 320km than competing aircraft.

The Jet2 brand comprises airline Jet2.com, the UK’s third biggest carrier, and Jet2holidays, which is now the country’s second largest tour operator.

Jet2.com & Jet2holidays CEO Steve Heapy with Boeing representatives

It’s a growing business, with more than 12 million seats and three new destinations available for Summer 2019, a year-on-year capacity increase of 15%.

Steve Heapy, chief exec of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “The arrival of the 100th aircraft into our fleet is a momentous occasion and demonstrates the confidence we have in our growing business.

“Operating a fleet on this scale means we can continue to increase capacity, offering holidaymakers more choice and flexibility than ever before when it comes to getting to Europe, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean.”

He continued: “As well as continuing to grow, we have never lost our unwavering focus on providing the very best in class when it comes to customer service and customer experience, and our track record of high-profile award wins shows we are getting this right.

“Our brand new aircraft mean we continue to build on this success, providing more comfort in an enhanced cabin interior for customers on their well-deserved holidays.”