Richardson, Nigel Jet2.com

The origins of Jet2.com date back to the early 1970s and the founding of Carpenter's Air Services. This company leased cargo space on Intra Airways aircraft to transport fresh flowers and produce from Guernsey to the UK mainland. Subsequent expansion led to the creation of Express Air Services, which introduced passenger charter flights and secured its first contract with the Royal Mail. The Dart Group acquired Express Air Services in 1983 and renamed it Channel Express. The airline offered scheduled and ad-hoc charter flights throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, operating a variety of aircraft. In October 2002, the Dart Group entered the low-cost carrier market, establishing Jet2.com. As its route network expanded, the airline opened bases at Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Belfast International, and Newcastle. Jet2holidays was launched in 2007, offering package holidays operated by its sister airline. By 2019, Jet2.com carried nearly 14.5 million passengers annually with a fleet of 100 aircraft operating from nine bases. This fleet increasingly consisted of Airbus A321s, marking a shift from a predominantly Boeing fleet. Featuring over 170 illustrations, this book chronicles the history of Jet2.com, from its predecessor Express Air Freight through its growth to its transformation into an award-winning scheduled airline.