jet2 number 1 tour operator

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Jet2holidays overtakes Tui to become UK’s largest tour operator

The firm will operate its biggest summer programme this year, featuring 65 destinations., article bookmarked.

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Jet2holidays has overtaken Tui to become the UK’s largest tour operator for the first time.

Data published by the Civil Aviation Authority shows Jet2holidays is licensed to provide package holidays to 5.9 million people in the year to the end of September.

That is compared with 5.3 million for Tui.

Becoming the UK's largest tour operator is a significant milestone

Jet2holidays will operate its largest summer programme this year, featuring 65 destinations.

Chief executive Steve Heapy said: “Becoming the UK’s largest tour operator is a significant milestone in the history of Jet2holidays, but it will not change a single thing that we do.

“Our continued success is because we have the best team in the industry who work tirelessly to look after our customers, and we will never lose sight of that fundamental principle.”

The Leeds-based company, launched in 2007, was widely praised for its handling of customer refunds for trips cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.

Tour operators determine how many passengers they are licensed to provide package holidays to based on a combination of bookings already received and expected future sales.

Jet2holidays decided to increase its total for the year to the end of September by around 600,000 in response to recent demand.

Atol protects package holiday customers if their travel organiser fails by ensuring they are not stranded abroad or lose money.

Jet2holidays’ sister airline Jet2.com celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first flight – from Leeds Bradford airport to Amsterdam – on Sunday.

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Jet2holidays flying high after claiming No 1 travel spot

I n the 16 years since Philip Meeson’s company began to carry passengers, his Jet2holidays division has gone from bottom to No 1 in the league of the UK’s biggest tour operators.

After increasing its Atol licence for the year by more than 500,000 passengers to almost 5.9 million, it has leapfrogged Tui Group, putting it more than half a million passengers ahead of its Anglo-German rival.

It says it has its biggest summer programme this year, with more than 15 million seats available to more than 65 destinations. In 2007, it had a licence to carry 23,000 people to 15 destinations.

While easyJet and Ryanair seem to revel in upsetting their customers by wringing every pound out of them, Jet2 claims that customer service, including a 22kg baggage allowance, is a key ingredient, one that came into its own during the pandemic.

So passionate is the former RAF pilot about his customers that he was once warned about his behaviour by police after delivering an expletive-laden assessment to check-in staff at Manchester airport that he felt were letting the side down.

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As a pilot, he flew with the Marlboro-sponsored Pitts Special aerobatics team and was British champion five times. He has admitted that his exit from the RAF was a swift one. “They wanted me to fly bombers. “We had a row over that and I left,” he said.

Changing tack and setting up his own business has proved lucrative. In December Meeson, 75, the group’s chairman, sold more than £42 million of shares and according to The Sunday Times Rich List is worth an estimated £650 million.

Jet2, previously known as Dart Group, was founded by Meeson as a freight operator in the 1980s. Today it focuses largely on tour operations – Jet2holidays – and its airline, Jet2.com. In a trading update last month, it predicted that it would beat market expectations.

Steve Heapy, 53, the Jet2 chief executive, said: “I’m actually not interested in being the biggest; only in being the best. But we are now the biggest because we are the best and that won’t change. We will never sacrifice our customer proposition for growth.”

Shares of Jet2 closed yesterday up by 20½p, or 1.7 per cent, at £12.24.

Airport is back to its best says chief More than 5.4 million passengers travelled through Heathrow in January, the busiest start to the year since 2020 and the outgoing chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, claimed the airport was back to its best.

Passenger numbers were up 111 per cent on last year’s 2.6 million and 10 per cent shy of the 6.1 million seen in 2020, before the pandemic grounded the aviation industry.

The airport said overall passenger satisfaction levels are now at or above pre-pandemic levels, with 98 per cent of passengers last month waiting less than ten minutes to pass security.

After disruption from Border Force strikes in December, Heathrow said it was well-equipped to manage the influx of passengers during the half-term period.

The airport was supportive of the announcement by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on restarting ticket sales to China.

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Jet2holidays becomes UK’s largest tour operator

Posted By: Northern Financial Review February 13, 2023

Leeds-based Jet2 said on Monday the latest Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) data published by the Civil Aviation Authority shows that Jet2holidays is now the UK’s largest tour operator, ahead of TUI UK.

Jet2holidays increased its ATOL licence for the year by over 500,000 to 5,859,600 passengers.

“This puts Jet2holidays over half a million passengers ahead of the nearest tour operator and comes in response to strong and continued demand from customers looking for the assurance of an award-winning Jet2holidays package,” said Jet2.

“In response to this demand, the UK’s leading tour operator has its biggest ever summer programme on sale this year, with over 15 million seats to choose from across more than 65 sun and leisure city destinations.

“On top of this huge summer programme the package holiday specialist, and leading leisure airline Jet2.com, have added capacity to a number of destinations in recent weeks as more customers look to book their well-deserved holidays to the sunshine with the package holiday provider.

“Today’s announcement is a major milestone for Jet2holidays, which launched in 2007 with a licence to carry just 23,000 passengers to 15 destinations.

“The announcement also comes in the same week that Jet2.com celebrates exactly 20 years since its first ever flight.”

Jet2holidays CEO Steve Heapy said: “Becoming the UK’s largest tour operator is a significant milestone in the history of Jet2holidays, but it will not change a single thing that we do.

“Our continued success is because we have the best team in the industry who work tirelessly to look after our customers, and we will never lose sight of that fundamental principle.

“The loyalty of customers and independent travel agents has been integral to our growth and success, so on behalf of everyone at Jet2holidays, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to every single one of them for their continued support and helping us get to this position today.

“I can promise we will repay that faith by continuing to focus on doing the same thing every single day, which is delivering the VIP customer service that seen us enjoy this success.”

Jet2 points to softening in holiday prices ahead of summer season

Jet2 has signalled that post-pandemic price increases for holidays may be starting to ease heading into the summer as competition heats up across the sector.

The tour operator and airline said that, while trips booked for the coming summer have seen “a modest increase” in cost compared with last year, prices have recently become “more competitive, particularly for April and May departures”.

In a trading update, Jet2 added that package holiday and flight-only bookings are up 13% and 18% respectively for the summer period versus this time last year.

The update will give consumers hope that holiday price rises may be less dramatic this year than last.

In November, Jet2 said the average price of one of its trips had increased 11%, while some airlines reported price rises of as much as 26% last summer.

This could be a sign that the pricing power enjoyed by the sector, with people prepared to pay whatever it takes to get their week in the sun, is starting to ease

Russ Mould, an analyst at AJ Bell , said: “This could be a sign that the pricing power enjoyed by the sector, with people prepared to pay whatever it takes to get their week in the sun, is starting to ease.”

Jet2 shares fell 5% in Wednesday morning trading as investors were spooked by the company’s pricing comments.

The group said demand is proving strong for the peak season, revealing it has sold 55% of its plane tickets and package holidays for the summer season and has 12.3% more seats available than last year, at 17.1 million.

It added that it has bought 90% of its fuel for the forthcoming season, and more than 80% for the full financial year, meaning it is less exposed to tensions in the Middle East which could affect oil prices.

After rising last week amid fears that attacks between Iran and Israel would flare up further, oil has retreated in recent days amid an apparent easing in tensions.

Although still very early in full-year 2025, we remain confident that customers will continue to travel with us from our rainy island to the sun spots of the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and to European leisure cities

Jet2 added that it is still “mindful of the current macro-economic and geo-political environments and how these may impact future consumer spending”.

It said that, with nearly half of the summer tickets still to sell, it could not give guidance on the 2024-25 full year.

However, it said pre-tax profit for the year ending March 31 2024 is on course to come in about one-third higher than the previous year, at between £515 million and £520 million.

Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy said: “Although still very early in full-year 2025, we remain confident that customers will continue to travel with us from our rainy island to the sun spots of the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and to European leisure cities.”

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Moscow Metro Underground Small-Group Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

Moscow metro underground small-group tour.

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Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Free Cancellation
• Duration: 3 Hrs
• Language: English
• Departure Time : 10:00 AM
• Departure Details : Karl Marks Monument on Revolution Square, metro stop: Square of Revolution
• Return Details : Metro Smolenskaya
• If you cancel at least 4 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
• If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Go beneath the streets on this tour of the spectacular, mind-bending Moscow Metro! Be awed by architecture and spot the Propaganda , then hear soviet stories from a local in the know. Finish it all up above ground, looking up to Stalins skyscrapers, and get the inside scoop on whats gone on behind those walls.

Know More about this tour

We begin our Moscow tour beneath the city, exploring the underground palace of the Moscow Metro. From the Square of Revolution station, famous for its huge statues of soviet people (an armed soldier, a farmer with a rooster, a warrior, and more), we’ll move onto some of the most significant stations, where impressive mosaics, columns, and chandeliers will boggle your eyes! Moreover, these stations reveal a big part of soviet reality — the walls depict plenty of Propaganda , with party leaders looking down from images on the walls. Your local guide will share personal stories of his/her family from USSR times, giving you insight into Russia’s complicated past and present. Then we’re coming back up to street level, where we’ll take a break and refuel with some Russian fast food: traditional pancakes, called bliny. And then, stomachs satiated, we are ready to move forward! We’ll take the eco-friendly electric trolleybus, with a route along the Moscow Garden Ring. Used mainly by Russian babushkas(grannies) during the day, the trolleybus hits peak hours in the mornings and evenings, when many locals use it going to and from their days. Our first stop will be the Aviator’s House, one of Stalin’s Seven Sisters, followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — and you’ll hear the legends of what has gone on inside the walls. Throughout your Moscow tour, you’ll learn curious facts from soviet history while seeing how Russia exists now, 25 years after the USSR.

Local English-speaking guide

Pancake snack and drink

Additional food and drinks

Tickets for public transport

Souvenirs and items of a personal nature

Tips and gratuities for the guide

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Dress standard: Please wear comfortable shoes for walking. For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people

Traveler Reviews

This tour exceeded our expectations. Nikolai (Nick), our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, thorough, and has a great personality. He didn't take shortcuts and really covered everything that was on the agenda in great detail. We saw beautiful metro stations and learned the history behind them, including many of the murals and designs.

We did the tour with Anna her knowledge and understanding of the History surrounding the metro brought the tour alive. Well done Anna!

This tour was amazing!

Anna was a great tour guide. She gave us heaps of interesting information, was very friendly, and very kindly showed us how to get to our next tour.

Amazing beauty and history.

An excellent tour helped by an absolutely amazing guide. Anna gave a great insight into the history of the metro helped by additional material she had prepared.

great tour and guide - thanks again

great will do it again, Miriam ke was very good as a guide she has lived here all here life so knew every interesting detail.a good day

Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.