Jet2.com arrives at East Midlands Airport

Jet2.com the low fares airline, announced a substantial investment for the Midlands, with the launch of a brand new base at East Midlands Airport, creating over 130,000 seats, seven new direct seat-only destinations and 250 new jobs for the region.

The airline will offer low fare seat-only destinations from East Midlands Airport to Lanzarote, Corfu, Dalaman, Heraklion, Paphos, Tenerife and Sharm El Sheikh which are available to book today for departures from May 2010, with incredible starting fares from £59.99 one way including taxes. It will also be possible to book package tours through Jet2holidays.com to these destinations from £269 per person for seven nights. In addition, the new routes will bring over 250 new jobs into the area within Jet2.com, the airport and supporting industries, as well as bolstering the tourism industry and region as a whole.

Ian Doubtfire, Managing Director at Jet2.com said, "At a time when many competitors are cutting services and closing bases, we are increasing ours with our ambitious expansion into the Midlands which will be our seventh base to date within the UK. We see the region as having huge growth potential for our leisure business and the exceptional transport links to the airport allows us to extend Jet2.com's catchment area further into Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and surrounding areas. "We are bringing with us our winning formula, offering people what they want; great holiday destinations, low fares, sociable flight times and a friendly service. It is fantastic that we can now offer flights from the Midlands and we are confident that our close relationship with the airport will see our presence grow further. "I hope that leisure travellers and overseas property owners alike will be delighted with the news that they can travel direct to popular destinations on a budget, and we urge them to book now for our lowest fares at Jet2.com. We look forward to welcoming them onboard soon." Seven new routes and starting fares from East Midlands Airport for summer 2010 are:

• Lanzarote, Arrecife from £59.99 one way including taxes, departing 20th May 2010

• Turkey, Dalaman from £69.99 one way including taxes, departing 21st May 2010 • Corfu from £59.99 one way including taxes, departing 24th May 2010

• Greece, Heraklion from £69.99 one way including taxes, departing 25th May 2010

• Cyprus, Paphos from £69.99 one way including taxes, departing 23rd May 2010 • Tenerife from £59.99 one way including taxes, departing 21st May 2010

• Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh from £79.99 one way including taxes, departing 27th May 2010

Penny Coates, Chief Executive at East Midlands Airport said, "The news that Jet2.com will open a brand new operation from East Midlands Airport next year is extremely encouraging for the airport and the region as a whole. This news is a positive indicator for the future and puts East Midlands Airport in a strong position as we continue to extend and develop our route network.