Airport is defiant despite Lufthansa pullout
Jet2 reports great response as it prepares for Liverpool take-off
LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport (JLA) is defiant about Lufthansa’s decision to suspend services from the city as it sets its sights on attracting more new airlines in 2024.
Lufthansa will suspend its Liverpool to Frankfurt route from February. The route, which began operating in 2022, meant that Liverpool could offer international connectivity to destinations across the globe with a stop in the German finance capital.
However, Lufthansa said it suspended the route due to a lack of plane availability, as the airline has to undergo maintenance work on some of its fleet.
JLA CEO John Irving said the airport has been disheartened by that decision and its impact but has already begun working to bring the route back.
“We were really disappointed – as I’m sure all the people in the city region who have used it are”, he said.
“I think it was five years ago when we first had Lufthansa over in the city region to meet businesses and politicians so to finally get that route in 2022 was a huge moment for the airport.
“It’s not the same volume as Jet2 (which is beginning operations from JLA in March) but in terms of status and what it brings to the region, economically and from a connecting point of
JET2.COM and Jet2holidays are on the countdown until their first flights depart from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with operations starting in less than three months’ time.
The UK’s largest tour operator and third largest airline will start operating flights and holidays from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with a flight to Tenerife signalling the start of operations from the airport.
To mark the special occasion, scheduled for March 28, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have promised exciting plans at the airport for their first day.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays announced they would launch their award-winning flights and holidays from Liverpool John Lennon Airport back in May last year, marking the latest stage in their continued growth and success story.
The airline and tour operator has put 20 sunshine destinations on sale for summer 2024 from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, including six destinations that are exclusive to Jet2. com and Jet2holidays from Liverpool.
Since launching, the companies have reported a fantastic response view, it was huge.
“We were expecting that to grow over summer, not to be suspended, so to get that news which came very unexpectedly to us was very disappointing.
“In aviation you can lose a route but this is such an important part of what we’re trying to build here at Liverpool, more importantly for the city region.
“We haven’t accepted it by just saying ‘oh we’ll get on with it’, it’s driven by aircraft utilisation and engine issues. It is suspended for summer, not cancelled, and I think that’s important.
“We’re already talking to the UK team and the team in Frankfurt about when it can come back and how we get it over the line and what we need to do.
“We’d prefer not to need to do that and just be flying but I think everybody understands its importance and it was a newish route for Lufthansa and it was doing well.
“It’s not a route that we knew was under any pressure, it was doing well. I think we have to take it for what it is, it’s very disappointing, it needs to come back at the earliest opportunity.
“It was doing well and it was connecting people around Europe and across the world. It’s a blow for us, but the comment we would make – and I’m sure the business leaders of the city region would agree – is that it needs to come back.
“It’s something we all want and need and I’m from customers and independent travel agents and have announced an even bigger programme for summer 2025 on the back of this, with additional aircraft coming into operation to support this growth.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Since the day we announced our launch from
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, we have experienced huge demand from customers and independent travel agents wanting to enjoy our awardwinning flights and ATOL protected package holidays.
“The key ingredient behind our success is our commitment to delivering VIP customer service and it is clear that the word has spread to Liverpool and the surrounding region, because the reaction we have had since launch has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“Bookings have remained sure Lufthansa will see that as soon and as soon as they’ve got aircraft availability it will be one that makes its return. But I think we’ll have to wait and see over the next few months in terms of when that could be.”
Despite the disappointment of this development, work continues at JLA to bring more routes and airlines to Liverpool.
Mr Irving described the March 2024 arrival of Jet2 as “massive”, citing the number of new routes, jobs and planes based in Speke as a result, but he wants to bring even more capacity and choice to passengers.
He said: “We’ve had a good year for new airlines – Jet2 is the standout one but we’ve had a few. Aurigny flying into Guernsey, Dan Air (connecting consistently strong since launch, and the feedback we have received has left us in no doubt that making this move was the right one.
“We are incredibly excited about opening this latest chapter in our continued growth story and we cannot wait to welcome customers and get started.”
In their first summer of operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will operate up to 54 weekly flights, including 12 weekly flights to both the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.
A fleet of four based aircraft will fly customers to a wide choice of destinations across Mainland
Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Portugal, Madeira and Cyprus.
This is a significant programme for Liverpool with Bacau in Romania), there’s lots of stuff. Even with our current partners easyJet and Ryanair, there’s new routes and routes that are being developed to fly to places that we know have a demand.
“That work (looking for new airlines and routes) never stops. Our aviation guys are always looking at routes that we know will work for a carrier and finding the right carrier is the key.
“We’ve had a good year of adding in airlines and that might not be replicated every year, but if there’s a route that we know people in the Liverpool City Region need or want then we will be out there looking for someone to do that, whether it’s a current carrier or a new one.
“For us, we’ve got a great airport, we’re going to do a lot of work this winter to make sure it’s ready for growth and we can expect more growth over the coming years.
“We know that Jet2 will be putting a fifth based aircraft in the following year, which is a great sign that it’s working and it’s going to work here in Liverpool really well.
“We’ll always be looking for opportunities that work for everyone and can be a long term partner for us.
“Hopefully it will be another good year next year, we’re going to see lots of new people in the airport, we’ll have a great year and if we can build on the successes we’ve had then that should continue into the future.” the company’s first summer of operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, representing 565,000 seats on sale.
The programme includes six exclusive summer routes to Gran Canaria, Menorca, Rhodes, Zante, Madeira, and Bourgas (Bulgaria).
A team of more than 250 colleagues, including a huge team of uniformed Customer Helpers, will be in place to help customers.
Passengers flying from Liverpool check-in quickly and pass through the terminal with ease compared to many larger airports, with average security queue times of just 12 minutes last summer and more on time departures than most other UK airports.