WTM: Jet2 Agrees to Add 600,000 Airline Seats to Greece in 2022

UK leisure travel group Jet2 (Jet2.com & Jet2holidays) agreed to boost the number of airline seats to Greece by 600,000 in 2022, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias announced on Monday from London, where he is attending the World Travel Market (WTM) 2021 tourism trade show.

Kikilias announced the news after meeting with Steve Heapy, chief executive officer at Jet2 & Jet2holidays.

More specifically, under the agreement, Jet2.com will offer 1.44 million airline seats for Greece in 2022 on flights out of 10 UK airports to 15 Greek airports. It will also add two flights per week to Athens from Birmingham and Manchester. In total, the company will operate 270 flights a week to Greek destinations.

The minister referred to the positive feedback of UK airline companies and tour operators which based on their 2021 results are looking ahead to a very positive 2022.

“We have just agreed with Jet2 for 600,000 airline seats exceeding 2019 levels, with new flights from Manchester and from Birmingham to Athens from as of April 15,” he said.

Kikilias went on to add that summer for British travelers will kick off earlier next year on April 1 with Heraklion, Crete, as the first destination in addition to 15 more.

“We are also in advanced talks to keep certain destinations open in the winter of 2022-2023,” said Kikilias after the meeting, which included the participation of Greek National Tourism Organization Secretary-general Dimitris Fragakis and top executives at Jet2.com and its package holiday provider Jet2holidays.

“UK airlines and tour operators are giving Greece their vote of confidence,” said Kikilias.

Heapy commended Greece for its tourism performance under the particularly adverse conditions and uncertainty of the last two years due to Covid-19, which he attributed to the strict health protocols implemented and the sense of security tourism professionals instilled in their visitors.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias CNN’s Richard Quest at the Greek stand at the WTM London expo.

During his first day at WTM in London, Kikilias spoke of Greece’s plans for the new year to CNN’s Richard Quest and to UK journalists and held working meetings with ABTA and Ryanair executives.

“Greece is present at the WTM in full force,” he said.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is an official media partner of WTM London.