Jet2 bookings surge 7% as EU border delays threaten peak travel
A late surge in summer holiday bookings driven by a brief Middle East ceasefire and a European heatwave faces a critical test as new EU border checks cause hours-long airport delays just days before peak season.
Package holiday operator Jet2 has reported a 7.1% year-on-year increase in summer bookings, with its average load factor rising 1.2 percentage points. The rebound, which pushed the London-listed company's shares up roughly 10% in early Wednesday trading, follows months of consumer hesitation tied to Middle East tensions and rising jet fuel costs.
Consumers were waiting to see how the conflict would unfold before committing to trips abroad. “There is still a massive amount of people who want to go away,” said Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy. “But they have delayed their purchase because they wanted to see what happened with the conflict.”
A building heatwave across Europe has further accelerated demand, with travellers seeking air-conditioned accommodations. The recovery is broad, but Heapy noted that “Turkey, Cyprus, eastern Greek islands, Bulgaria and parts of north Africa have rebounded the most in percentage terms, but all destinations have increased.”
This renewed confidence arrives at a precarious moment for global markets. Heapy’s comments preceded Donald Trump’s declaration that a ceasefire with Iran was over, made during a Nato summit in Ankara. The announcement immediately drove oil prices up more than 6% on fears of supply disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to reignite the very fuel cost fears that had previously suppressed bookings.
Compounding the geopolitical uncertainty is operational chaos on the ground. A new EU border check system requiring fingerprinting and facial recognition has triggered hours-long queues at major continental airports. Airlines have warned that some flights are departing only half full because passengers are stuck in immigration lines.
Despite acknowledging “20 difficult spots” with queue chaos, the EU this week rejected calls from airports and airlines to suspend the system. Officials admitted the rollout is “not perfect” but told travel industry representatives a full suspension was “not needed” and “not possible” just a week before peak season begins. Heapy advised passengers it was “wise to turn up a little earlier than normal,” though he noted no Jet2 flights had left passengers behind.
The strain on continental airports is pushing some travellers toward alternative plans. UK holiday parks and hotels are reporting a jump in bookings as travellers stay closer to home. Research from UK travel body Abta found that 84% of those planning foreign trips are choosing short-haul destinations, while 30% are now booking just two to four weeks before departure.
