Jet2 plc

Jet2 plc is a British aviation and leisure-travel group headquartered in Leeds, England. Its principal consumer brands are Jet2.com, a scheduled and charter airline focused on flights from the United Kingdom to European leisure destinations, and Jet2holidays, a package-holiday business combining flights, accommodation and related travel services. The group’s airline headquarters are at Low Fare Finder House on the grounds of Leeds Bradford Airport, while its commercial operations are conducted from Holiday House in central Leeds. The business originated in 1971, when Art Carpenter established Carpenter’s Air Services to transport flowers from Guernsey to mainland Britain using contracted aircraft, alongside Carpenter’s Transport, which distributed the flowers to wholesale markets. The operations were consolidated as Express Air Freight in 1975. In the late 1970s the company bought Handley Page Dart Herald aircraft, carrying flowers and fresh produce from the Channel Islands and consumer goods in the opposite direction. It also developed Royal Mail contract flying from 1980. After becoming associated with the Channel Express name in 1983, the company was acquired by Philip Meeson and organized into aviation-services and distribution activities. Its early aviation fleet included Dart Herald aircraft, Lockheed Electras, Fokker F27s and Airbus freighters. The corporate group became Dart Group plc and joined the London Stock Exchange in 1991. For much of its earlier history, the Dart name referred to the Dart Herald aircraft operated by the business. Dart Group expanded beyond aviation through temperature-controlled logistics. It acquired Fowler Welch in 1994 and later developed or acquired additional cold-chain distribution operations, including Coolchain. These logistics activities were subsequently separated from the travel business; Fowler Welch was sold to Culina Group in 2020. The disposal helped leave the group primarily focused on aviation and holidays. The Jet2.com airline was launched in 2002, with passenger services beginning in February 2003 from Leeds Bradford Airport to destinations in mainland Europe. The airline initially used Boeing 737 aircraft, including quick-change aircraft capable of being configured for freight or passengers, and later expanded through Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 acquisitions. Services were progressively added from Belfast International, Manchester and Newcastle, followed by a broader UK-base network. Jet2holidays was established in January 2007, allowing the group to sell integrated package holidays alongside airline seats. This vertically connected model became central to the group’s leisure proposition: Jet2.com provides the air capacity while Jet2holidays sells packaged stays and destination services. The group also operates from overseas bases in Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife South, supporting its European leisure network. In 2020 Dart Group changed its corporate name to Jet2 plc after disposing of much of its non-travel activity. The stock-market ticker was changed to reflect the new identity. Jet2.com has since continued expanding its UK airport presence and announced operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2024. The group’s customer-facing positioning emphasizes low-fare air travel, package-holiday convenience and service aimed at British holidaymakers travelling to warm-weather destinations. Jet2’s brand visibility has also been shaped by the long-running Jet2holidays advertising campaign using the song “Hold My Hand” by Jess Glynne. The campaign, introduced in 2015, later became widely reused in humorous TikTok videos in 2025. This social-media phenomenon increased recognition of the campaign beyond its original travel-advertising context, although it did not represent a change in the group’s corporate structure or products.

Jet2 plc traces its origins to 1971, when Art Carpenter created Carpenter’s Air Services to move flowers from Guernsey to mainland Britain and Carpenter’s Transport to distribute them after arrival. The businesses were consolidated as Express Air Freight in 1975. In 1978 the company bought Handley Page Dart Herald aircraft, allowing it to operate its own freight services for flowers, fresh produce and consumer goods. The business became Express Air Services in 1979 and began Royal Mail contract flying to the Channel Islands in 1980. In 1983 the operation adopted the Channel Express identity and was acquired by Philip Meeson. It was divided into aviation and distribution activities, with aircraft operations initially centered on Dart Herald aircraft. Additional aircraft, including a third Dart Herald, Lockheed Electras, Fokker F27s and Airbus freighters, supported the expansion of freight and passenger-related activities. The group floated on the Unlisted Securities Market before becoming Dart Group plc and listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1991. Dart Group broadened its logistics operations during the 1990s. Fowler Welch, a temperature-controlled distribution company, was acquired in 1994, while Coolchain and other distribution assets helped form a larger cold-chain network. The group also built distribution capacity in southern England. Its aviation operation developed quick-change aircraft capable of switching between freight and passenger configurations, providing flexibility as the business moved toward leisure aviation. The modern Jet2 business began taking shape in 2002, when the group acquired Boeing 737 aircraft for passenger and quick-change operations. Jet2.com began low-cost scheduled flights from Leeds Bradford Airport in February 2003, initially linking the Yorkshire airport with mainland European destinations. It expanded to Belfast International in 2004, Manchester in 2004 and Newcastle in 2005, followed by further Boeing 737 and 757 acquisitions. Jet2holidays was formed in January 2007 to sell package holidays using the airline’s capacity. The logistics division was gradually separated from the travel business. Fowler Welch and Coolchain had been combined into Fowler Welch Coolchain, and Fowler Welch was ultimately sold to Culina Group for £98 million in 2020. Later that year Dart Group changed its name to Jet2 plc and changed its stock-market ticker to Jet2. The rebrand represented a strategic concentration on airline and package-holiday activities rather than a simple change to a single airline brand. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays now form the group’s central operating structure. Jet2.com serves a network of UK airports and European leisure destinations, with overseas bases including Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife South. The business has continued to add UK capacity, including operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport announced for 2024. Jet2holidays complements the airline by selling integrated travel packages, accommodation and destination services. The group’s public profile has also been influenced by marketing. Jet2holidays’ “Hold My Hand” campaign, launched in 2015 and built around Jess Glynne’s song of the same name, became especially prominent on TikTok in 2025 when users reused its audio in humorous compilations. This illustrated the way a conventional travel advertisement could acquire a separate life as internet culture while continuing to support the Jet2holidays brand.

1. 2024Liverpool operations are launched

   Jet2.com adds Liverpool John Lennon Airport to its operating network.

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2. 2020Dart Group becomes Jet2 plc

   After the sale of Fowler Welch, the company adopts Jet2 plc as its corporate name and changes its market ticker to Jet2.

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3. 2007Jet2holidays is formed

   The group establishes its package-holiday business, linking accommodation and travel products with Jet2.com flights.

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4. 2003Jet2.com begins passenger services

   The airline starts flying from Leeds Bradford Airport to mainland European destinations.

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5. 2002Jet2.com is prepared for launch

   Boeing 737 aircraft are acquired for passenger and quick-change operations supporting the new low-cost airline.

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6. 1994Fowler Welch is acquired

   The group expands its temperature-controlled logistics division through the purchase of Fowler Welch.

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7. 1991Dart Group plc lists on the London Stock Exchange

   The group changes its name to Dart Group plc and becomes a London-listed company.

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8. 1983Philip Meeson acquires the business

   The company becomes part of the Channel Express Group and is divided into aviation-services and distribution activities.

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9. 1978The company buys Handley Page Dart Herald aircraft

   The purchase gives the business dedicated aircraft for Channel Islands freight and related routes.

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10. 1975Operations become Express Air Freight

    The original air-service and distribution activities are consolidated under the Express Air Freight name.

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11. 1971Carpenter’s Air Services is established

    Art Carpenter establishes the aviation and transport operations that form the group’s earliest recorded roots.

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A British leisure-travel group positioned around affordable flights, package holidays and dependable service for UK customers travelling to European sun and city destinations.

• Jet2.comLow-cost airline2003

  Jet2.com is the group’s passenger airline. It operates scheduled and leisure-focused flights from a network of UK airports to European destinations, particularly Mediterranean resorts, the Canary Islands and selected city destinations. The airline developed from the group’s earlier freight and quick-change aviation operations and has used Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 aircraft during its expansion. Its network is designed primarily around outbound British holiday demand.

• Jet2holidaysPackage holidays2007

  Jet2holidays sells package holidays that combine Jet2.com flights with accommodation and destination-related services. The integrated model gives the group control over both air capacity and the holiday-sales relationship, while offering customers a single booking for major elements of a leisure trip. Its core market is British consumers travelling to European sun destinations.

• Freight and aviation servicesHistorical logistics and aviation services1971

  Before concentrating on consumer travel, the group operated air-freight, Royal Mail contract and temperature-controlled distribution activities. Historical aircraft included Dart Herald, Lockheed Electra, Fokker F27 and Airbus freighter types. These activities shaped the company’s operating capabilities but are no longer the principal focus of Jet2 plc after the disposal of Fowler Welch.

• 2025Hold My Hand social-media revival

  International social media audiences

  TikTok users repurposed the campaign’s soundtrack in comedic and unexpected video compilations, turning a travel advertisement into a widely recognized internet meme.

  Outcome. The campaign gained substantial cultural visibility beyond conventional holiday advertising.

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• 2015Hold My Hand

  United Kingdom

  Jet2holidays introduced a long-running advertising campaign built around Jess Glynne’s song “Hold My Hand,” using a recognizable soundtrack and holiday imagery to promote package holidays.

  Outcome. The campaign remained in use for years and achieved renewed visibility after its audio was widely reused in TikTok memes in 2025.

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• 2020Concentrate on travel under the Jet2 identityStrategy

  Dart Group had historically combined aviation with temperature-controlled distribution, but its consumer travel brands had become increasingly central.

  What changed. The group sold Fowler Welch to Culina Group and changed its corporate name and ticker from Dart Group to Jet2 plc and JET2.

  Aftermath. Jet2 plc became more clearly identified with Jet2.com and Jet2holidays rather than its former logistics operations.

  Sale consideration for Fowler Welch. £98 million (2020)

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• 2007Create Jet2holidaysProduct launch

  The airline’s leisure network created an opportunity to sell flights together with accommodation and other holiday components.

  What changed. The group established Jet2holidays as a package-holiday business.

  Aftermath. The group developed an integrated airline-and-holidays model serving British leisure travellers.

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• 2002Build a low-cost passenger airlineProduct launch

  The group had substantial aviation experience but was historically associated with freight and regional services.

  What changed. It acquired Boeing 737 aircraft and prepared the Jet2.com passenger operation.

  Aftermath. Jet2.com began scheduled flights from Leeds Bradford Airport in 2003 and became the group’s principal airline brand.

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• 1991Adopt the Dart Group plc identity and pursue a public listingStrategy

  The expanding aviation and distribution group moved from its earlier Channel Express identity toward a listed corporate structure.

  What changed. The company changed its name to Dart Group plc and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

  Aftermath. The listing provided the corporate platform under which the group later developed its Jet2 airline and holidays businesses.

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• 2025Jet2holidays advertising campaign becomes a TikTok meme

  The long-running “Hold My Hand” campaign gained renewed international attention after users repurposed its audio in comedic and unexpected short-form videos.

  Campaign
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• 2024Jet2.com launches operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

  Liverpool became an additional UK operating base for Jet2.com, extending the airline’s airport network.

  Product launch
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• 2020Dart Group changes its corporate identity to Jet2 plc

  The group adopted the Jet2 plc name after selling its Fowler Welch logistics business, aligning the corporate identity with its airline and package-holiday brands.

  Other
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1. Jet2 plc
2. Jet2 plc: Our Board