Jet2CityBreaks on its expansion plans

Since launching in May 2015, Jet2CityBreaks – part of Jet2holidays – has become the biggest tour operator of European city breaks in the UK. This year, it will continue to add more destinations and product to its portfolio.

Its expanded winter 2019/20 programme includes two new routes for next winter – Budapest from Birmingham and Krakow from Glasgow – as well as more than 675,000 seats to city break destinations across Europe, marking a 17% capacity increase.

“Rome, Krakow, Budapest and Prague are particularly popular city break destinations for Jet2CityBreaks right now,” says Craig Davidson, general manager, trade sales at Jet2holidays. “Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks has increased the number of flights and city breaks on sale to these destinations to meet demand.”

Davidson says that Krakow in particular has grown significantly for the operator, with increased capacity from existing bases, as well as a new summer route to Krakow from Leeds Bradford also planned for this summer. There’s also a new winter route from Glasgow to the Polish city scheduled for winter 2019/20.

“Poland’s second biggest city offers plenty of culture and great value all year round, making it a huge hit with British clients,” says Davidson of the city’s success for the operator.

Iceland expansion

Jet2CityBreaks has also “significantly expanded” its programme to Iceland and the northern lights after a “hugely successful” first winter of operations from five UK bases in winter 2018/19 – Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Birmingham.

The operator now offers 32 trips to Iceland and the northern lights for winter 2019/20, more than double the amount on sale for this winter. The trips now fly from six bases, with the addition of East Midlands.

Each Iceland and northern lights city break includes a three-hour northern lights tour, led by an expert guide. Each trip also includes transfers to and from the airport, and a choice of three- and four-star hotels in central Reykjavik.

Accommodation options include the four-star Alda Hotel Reykjavik, located in the city’s downtown area, close to the main attractions. The hotel provides guests with a complimentary mobile phone with internet access, which they can take out with them, so clients can search for restaurants, bars and sites of interest without getting lost.

“Clients on Iceland & Northern Lights trips can also opt to add more sightseeing to their holiday, with optional bucket-list tours to the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon available to add to clients’ bookings,” says Davidson.

Jet2CityBreaks has also ramped up its trips to Christmas market destinations for winter 2019/20, with more than 70 breaks on sale. These include Nuremberg, a new destination for the operator.

Agent perks

The benefits of booking with Jet2CityBreaks are manifold for both customers and agents, explains Davidson. “We offer customers return Jet2.com flights, handpicked two- to five-star accommodation across a number of world-famous capitals and cultural centres, secured with a low £60 per person deposit.”

Each Atol-protected Jet2CityBreaks package also includes free 10kg hand luggage, plus free 22kg hold luggage on certain trips.

The operator recently announced the launch of Specialist Jet2holidays Travel Agents. “The new programme is an innovative, exciting way for independent travel agents to grow their businesses,” explains Davidson.

Those with Specialist Jet2holidays Travel Agent status have access to Jet2holidays Booking Pods, joint marketing and branding activity, and a bespoke training programme.

“These have all been designed to help [them] increase sales and grow their businesses, and equipping independent travel agents with the skills and knowledge to understand and sell Jet2CityBreaks to customers is a key part of that,” says Davidson.