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Jet2 is set to significantly bolster air links between the UK and Spain for summer 2026, adding thousands of extra seats and unveiling new routes that underscore the airline’s aggressive push into the Mediterranean holiday market.
Major Capacity Boost Across Spanish Hotspots
The UK leisure carrier is planning one of its biggest Spanish summer programmes to date, with sharp capacity increases to both the Balearic and Canary Islands as well as mainland coastal gateways. Jet2’s summer 2026 schedule will see a substantial rise in inbound seats to Spain, targeting peak holiday demand from families and package travellers.
Mallorca will again be the cornerstone of Jet2’s Spanish operation. The airline expects almost 890,000 inbound seats to Palma de Mallorca alone in summer 2026, around 90,000 more than last year, representing an 11 percent increase. At the height of the season, Palma is due to handle up to 182 weekly flights from Jet2’s 14 UK bases, making it the carrier’s single largest airport in Spain by volume.
Across the wider Balearic Islands, Jet2 plans to offer almost 1.5 million seats, up by more than 135,000 on summer 2025. Ibiza will see capacity rise to more than 360,000 inbound seats, while Menorca is set for the strongest percentage growth, with nearly 240,000 seats and a year on year increase of about 19 percent. The uplift reflects sustained British demand for short-haul Mediterranean breaks and longer family stays.
Canary Islands Emerges as a Second Powerhouse
In the Canary Islands, Jet2 is also staging a major expansion, turning the archipelago into a second strategic pillar of its Spain network. Tenerife South is positioned as one of the airline’s busiest Spanish bases for summer 2026, with more than 660,000 inbound seats planned and over 100 weekly flights at peak periods. The island will act as a key gateway for British travellers seeking year round sunshine and package holidays.
Lanzarote’s programme is set to exceed 420,000 inbound seats this summer, supported by around 70 weekly flights at peak. Gran Canaria will receive about 13,000 additional seats compared with summer 2025, taking its total beyond 290,000 and up to 47 weekly flights at the busiest times. Fuerteventura is expected to post the largest percentage growth in the Canaries, with tens of thousands of extra seats compared with last year’s schedule.
Industry observers say the scale of the Canary Islands uplift highlights Jet2’s confidence in Spain’s tourism resilience and its strategy of concentrating capacity on proven sun destinations. The islands’ extensive hotel infrastructure, strong package holiday partnerships and appeal to families and retirees make them a natural focus for the airline’s growth.
New Routes and Extended Seasons from UK Bases
The capacity surge is being matched by new and expanded Spanish routes from several UK airports. From London Luton, Jet2’s fast growing base, the airline is adding Menorca to its summer 2026 network, complementing existing services to mainland Spain and the islands. The move comes as Luton’s overall Jet2 programme climbs to around 620,000 seats and up to 50 weekly flights, supported by the basing of a third Airbus A321neo.
Further south, London Gatwick will host a full Jet2 base for the first time from March 2026, with six aircraft and a broad roster of Mediterranean destinations. Spain will feature heavily in the new operation, with routes to the Canary Islands, Balearics and Costa destinations such as Alicante, Malaga, Reus and Girona. The expansion is expected to ramp up competition on some of Gatwick’s busiest leisure corridors and create hundreds of aviation and tourism jobs.
On the Spanish mainland, Jet2 is also extending and strengthening its presence. In Almeria, the carrier is boosting peak season capacity for the 2026 season, increasing flight frequency from one to two weekly services and putting thousands more seats on sale. The extra flights are designed to give holidaymakers greater flexibility, opening up stay lengths beyond the traditional seven or fourteen night packages that have long dominated the market.
Tourism Partners Gear Up for British Demand
Jet2’s enlarged Spain programme is rippling through the tourism sector, particularly in resort areas that rely heavily on the British market. In the Balearics, Jet2holidays is partnering with more than 600 hotels for summer 2026, underlining its role as both airline and major tour operator. Hoteliers in Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca are adapting inventory and staffing to accommodate the expected rise in arrivals.
In coastal areas such as Roquetas de Mar, Mojacar and El Toyo near Almeria, hotels working with Jet2 are also preparing for stronger demand. Local tourism officials note that a significant share of Jet2 passengers purchase complete holiday packages, delivering a steady flow of visitors who typically stay in resort hotels and spend on dining, excursions and car hire.
Spanish regional authorities view the extra air capacity as an important lever for economic growth, especially in destinations where tourism remains a key employer. The additional flights and seats support not only hotel and hospitality jobs but also airport services, ground handling, transport providers and a wider network of small businesses that depend on international visitors.
Competitive Summer Ahead in the Mediterranean
The ramp up in Jet2’s Spain capacity comes as airlines across Europe position for what many expect to be one of the busiest summer travel seasons in recent years. Low cost and leisure carriers are competing aggressively on key Mediterranean routes, using new-generation aircraft and dense seating configurations to keep fares relatively competitive despite higher operating costs.
Analysts say Jet2’s focus on Spain, coupled with its package holiday offering, gives it a strong platform in the UK outbound market. By concentrating growth on established sun destinations and deepening ties with local hotel partners, the airline aims to capture a larger share of family and value-conscious travellers who prioritise straightforward, all-in holiday products.
For Spanish destinations, the thousands of extra Jet2 seats to islands and coastal regions signal sustained confidence in British demand. As summer 2026 approaches, airports from Palma and Ibiza to Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Almeria are preparing for another surge in UK arrivals, with Jet2 firmly at the centre of the latest wave of growth in Spain’s vital tourism sector.