Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays have emphasised their dedication to expanding within the UK, marking it as their primary growth focus.
- Jet2holidays CEO Steve Heapy highlighted substantial capacity increases planned for 2025 across the UK, reinforcing their commitment to domestic markets.
- Garry Wilson of easyJet holidays ruled out further European expansion, pointing to significant opportunities within the UK and its regions.
- Online travel agency Loveholidays is setting its sights on expanding international operations, particularly in the profitable German market.
- Despite challenges, Loveholidays managed significant growth in Germany, illustrating the potential of their international expansion initiatives.
Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays have collectively reinforced their intent to prioritise domestic expansion in the UK. This commitment was reaffirmed at the Future of Travel Conference, where key figures from both companies elaborated on their growth strategies.
Steve Heapy, Chief Executive of Jet2holidays, expressed a reluctance to expand into new overseas markets, instead focusing on bolstering their existing UK operations. He noted, “We have 12 bases and capacity is increasing; we have got capacity increases for summer 2025 for many of the bases and summer 2026 goes on sale very soon.” This strategic focus underscores their ambition to solidify their market presence and leverage increased capacity within the UK.
Meanwhile, Garry Wilson, Chief Executive of easyJet holidays, dismissed the notion of expanding into other European markets outside of their current operations in Germany, France, and Switzerland. He emphasised the considerable opportunity within the UK, stating that it presents a far larger potential market compared to mainland Europe. Wilson mentioned the brand’s strong network and resources as pivotal in capitalising on UK growth, highlighting new opportunities at airports such as Birmingham and Southend.
Conversely, Loveholidays, an online travel agency, is actively pursuing international market expansion, with a significant focus on the German market. Chief Executive Donat Retif shared insights into Loveholidays’ profitable journey in Germany, revealing a difficult start, but a subsequent period of notable financial success. Retif stated, “Once you convince Germans to go to your website, it’s a massive market. It took us 12 months to be profitable.” This success story positions Loveholidays well for further international endeavours.
The travel industry faces diverse growth strategies, with UK-focused expansions and international opportunities each presenting unique prospects.
