Jet2 plans southeast trade marketing blitz
Jet2.com will be targeting travel agents in the southeast of England with a three-week marketing blitz to raise awareness of its new flights from Stansted.
The airline will offer 21 destinations from Stansted, its ninth UK base, from next summer.
Head of trade Alan Cross said the company was aware that Jet2 was not as well know in the south of England as in the north.
"We will visit independent agents with the aim of reassuring them that we are in this for the long-term and that we are a financially secure company," he said.
Cross admitted that another challenge for Jet2holiday was persuading agents within the Stansted catchment area to sell tour operator packages when they are more inclined to sell dynamic packages.
"We will be reinforcing the benefits of package holidays and showing agents the diversity of what we offer," he added.
The operator will be going head to head with Ryanair, Stansted’s largest and most established airline.
"Ryanair is a very different product, we are more focused on selling packages not just seats, and we have the benefit of a relationship with travel agents," said Cross. "A third of our sales are through the travel agents and travel agents have grown with us."
Jet2’s trade sales team had been boosted with the appointment of Craig Davidson, previously with Belleair, as general manager of trade from October 3.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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