With easyJet planning to exit Leeds Bradford Airport, both Jet2 and Ryanair have stepped up to add further capacity to this Yorkshire airport.
Over to Jet2
Jet2 has launched dedicated offers for customers and independent travel agents at Leeds Bradford Airport, further underlining the company’s long-standing commitment to the airport, Yorkshire, and holidaymakers across the region.
This gives customers the chance to book their travel plans for less from their local airport.
The announcement further demonstrates Jet2’s longstanding commitment to Leeds Bradford Airport and the wider Yorkshire region. The company first started operating from Leeds Bradford Airport in 2003 with two aircraft and has grown significantly since then to become Yorkshire’s leading airline and tour operator, employing thousands of people across the region.
Jet2 is operating its biggest ever programme from Leeds Bradford Airport, with 65 destinations on sale. Next year the company will launch six new destinations in response to continued demand – Egypt (Hurghada & Sharm el Sheikh), Tunisia, Preveza, Santorini and Tivat (Montenegro) – and in Summer 27 the company will operate 15 based aircraft at the airport.
Promotions
Yorkshire’s leading tour operator and airline is giving customers £100 off all holiday bookings through the code YORKSHIRE100 and 10% off flights through the code YORKSHIRE10. Single-parent families can also save £100 on holiday bookings with the code YORKSHIRE100SPF and solo travellers can save £50 per booking with the code YORKSHIRE50SOLO.
All codes apply to all departures up to and including 31st March 2028 and must be booked by 31st August 2026.
In Quotes
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said:
“We have been proudly operating from Leeds Bradford Airport since 2003, when we launched with just two aircraft, and since then we have grown to become Yorkshire’s leading airline and tour operator. Our longstanding commitment to the region has never been stronger and we want to say thank you to our loyal customers and independent travel agent partners by launching these brand-new offers today.”
He added:
“Customers deserve the best experience and choice when it comes to their well-deserved holidays and that is what we look forward to continuing to provide from Leeds Bradford for many years to come. Whether it’s a sunshine getaway, a ski trip or city break escape, this offer makes booking that holiday even easier and we know our loyal customers will be delighted.”
Over in Ryanair land
Meanwhile, Ryanair is also responding, launching rescue fares from just £29.99 for passengers affected by EasyJet’s cancellation of its full Leeds Bradford schedule from 5 Jan 2027, including its Malaga route. From today, Ryanair is offering rescue fares from just £29.99 on its Leeds Bradford – Malaga route, which can be booked now on Ryanair’s app/website.
Ryanair operates 10 weekly flights between Leeds Bradford and Malaga, offering customers in Yorkshire and the North of England connectivity.
These £29.99 rescue fares are available to book now until the end of February on Ryanair’s app/website.
In Quotes
Ryanair’s Director of Comms, Jade Kirwan, said:
“While EasyJet abandons Leeds Bradford, cutting its full schedule from 5 Jan 2027, Ryanair is saving the day with rescue fares from just £29.99 for affected passengers – particularly those booked to fly easyJet from Leeds Bradford to Malaga, who can now switch to one of Ryanair’s 10 Malaga services per week. Ryanair’s rescue fares are available to book now on the Ryanair app/website.”
Wither, easyJet?
easyJet’s presence at Leeds Bradford covers regular routes including Barcelona, Belfast–International, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, with seasonal routes to Geneva, Málaga and Palma de Mallorca.
For easyJet, it seems that they’re focusing on more profitable routes – and that the Leeds-Bradford base doesn’t make sense for them from a commercial perspective.
And as we all know, airlines love to crunch numbers to ensure routes are profitable and sustainable. It seems that whilst Jet2 and Ryanair can make Leeds-Bradford airport work with their networks (both quite varied), easyJet went… “Nah”.
For its passengers, with bookings from Leeds Bradford Airport beyond 5 January next year, they have been offered a free transfer to flights from an alternative airport or a refund.
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