JET2 will launch 16 brand new routes from a small UK airport even earlier due to “huge demand”.
Holidaymakers in Bournemouth will have a number of new places to fly to as of February 2025, when the budget airline’s flights begin.
Bosses at the airliner initially wanted to take off from Hurn on April 1, 2025, but following demand from excitable customers, this has been brought forward to February 4.
Popular holiday destinations including Spain, Turkey, Greece and Portugal are among the new destinations to be served by the airline, once the routes take to the skies in 2025.
Twice weekly services on Mondays and Thursdays will be flying to Lanzarote from February 6 and weekly Sunday flights to Gran Canaria will take off from February 9.
“Consistent and strong demand” has resulted in the company bringing the launch forward by two months.
Spain will get the bulk of the new flights, with Alicante, Ibiza, Menorca, Mallorca, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife all getting a new link to the south coast.
Four Greek hotspots will also be included, with new Corfu, Heraklion, Rhodes and Zakynthos flights on the cards.
Two destinations in both Turkey and Portugal will be available as well, with Antalya, Dalaman, Faro and Funchal to be served by Jet2.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said: “It is very clear just how much customers and independent travel agents are looking forward to enjoying our award-winning flights and holidays from Bournemouth Airport, with the response exceeding all expectations.
“We know that local holidaymakers cannot wait for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays to launch from Bournemouth Airport, so we have shortened how long they have to wait by bringing forward our launch to February 2025.
“We cannot wait to get started, our plans are progressing brilliantly, and we are counting down the days until we can delight customers with our industry-leading service.”
In the first summer of operations from Bournemouth Airport, Jet2 will fly to 16 tourist hotspot destinations.
Two aeroplanes will be based at Hurn to fly 27 weekly flights from the airport, along with Ryanair and TUI.
And bosses at Bournemouth Airport are now anticipating more than one million passengers will pass through its terminal this year.
Steve Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, added: “This is fantastic news for passengers.
“Not only are Jet2.com and Jet2holidays bringing the launch of their flights and holidays forward by two months, but these flights to the Canaries will operate year-round.
“That means even more choice for local holidaymakers from Bournemouth Airport.”
Since announcing the launch of flights and holidays back in March this year, Jet2 has reported strong demand and continued excitement from customers and independent travel agents.
It comes as a new route between the UK and one of the cheapest cities in Europe launched earlier this month.
Jet2 announced the new service earlier this year and the first flights touched down last week.
Initially, the service was due to take off in 2025, but was moved forward and introduced one year earlier.
Now two weekly flights are travelling between the two cities throughout the summer until November 3 this year.
