NEWS the operator’s ninth annual event its biggest yet. Andrew McQuarrie reports from Belek, Turkey


Jet2holidays’ average sales value via trade rises £100


J


peaker Nicola Adams, former Olympic boxing from left: Lloyd Cross, Jet2holidays; Annelene & Sanderson; Dan Steabler, Barrhead Travel; rs, Jet2holidays; and Alan Cross, Jet2holidays


From left: Caroline Donaldson, Barrhead Travel; Annelene Hutton; Tony Mann, Idle Travel; and Lloyd Cross


t unfair taxes on aviation The Jet2 chief said the aviation sector


emits less carbon dioxide than sectors including cement-making, fast fashion and meat production – but airlines pay more in tax. Heapy said: “The airline industry is


being unfairly targeted. It’s given more focus than any other industry. We’re all aware of carbon tax and air passenger duty (APD). Is there a meat tax? A clothing tax? A bitcoin tax? No.” He added that the tax burden on travel


has increased in several ways in recent years and the trend looks set to continue.


et2holidays’ average booking value through agents has increased by £100 over the past 12 months, delegates at the operator’s annual VIP Conference heard.


The average selling price has risen from £842 last year


to £942 in 2023. Lloyd Cross, general manager for trade sales, said


agent bookings for this year had already hit £1.5 billion – an 8.1% rise on 2022 – with 1.5 million passengers booked. This had led to £200 million being paid out in


commission, he said. Four-star and five-star bookings now account for


60% of sales, compared with 57% last year, while family bookings have risen from 41% of sales to 43%. Holiday durations of eight to 13 nights have seen


a “big increase”, according to Cross, while demand for 14-night trips has tapered off. The operator’s top destination continues to be the


Canary Islands, but Turkey and Greece are among those which have recorded “significant” growth. Late bookings in 2023 accounted for 30% of sales,


Cross said, down from 33% last year. “This shows the trade are fantastic at selling further


out, but there’s also a huge opportunity for lates, which protect that critical cashflow,” he added. Jet2’s trade team, which has been expanded from 14 staff to 20, has undertaken more than 3,500 store visits


Lloyd Cross


this year, according to Cross. A total of 25 ‘destination discovery’ events were organised for more than 320 agents, and more than 500 meetings were held with key partners. Cross added that Jet2holidays had spent £2.5 million


on marketing to the trade this year. The company has also rolled out LED screens for shop


windows, created its ‘appoint an apprentice’ programme, undertaken its first annual survey, set up an advisory board and hosted six ‘Big Nights Out’. The conference – the ninth of its kind for independent agents – attracted a biggest-ever attendance of 350.


Jet2.com chief executive Steve Heapy warned that targets for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) appear unlikely to be met, but the airline is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint. He said the government wants


Targets for sustainable aviation fuel ‘unlikely to be met’ 10%


Proportion of fuel the government wants SAF to account for by 2030


SAF to account for 2% of aviation fuel by 2025, rising to 10% by 2030, but he added: “The harsh reality is that there will not be enough SAF in the UK.” Attempts to build five SAF


production plants in the UK by 2025 do not seem to be going


travelweekly.co.uk


to plan, according to Heapy. He added that Jet2.com has invested in the construction of a plant in the northwest of England. During the VIP Conference,


Heapy also highlighted the cost of SAF, saying: “The stuff we’ll be


its carbon footprint, said Heapy, as well as investing in carbon offsetting schemes including tree-planting and the building of hydroelectric plants and wind turbines. The airline has ordered a total


of 146 Airbus A321neo aircraft, costing about $18.1 billion. “These are the quietest and


most fuel-efficient in their class,” added Heapy.


7 DECEMBER 2023 11


required to use [Hefa] is about 12 times more expensive than jet fuel.” Jet2.com has been reducing


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