Jet2 cuts winter capacity as profits set to hit lower end of forecasts

Key facts

• Jet2 cuts winter seat capacity by 200,000 to 5.6 million, still 9% higher year-on-year.
• Underlying earnings for year to March 31, 2026 expected at lower end of £449m–£496m range.
• Previous year's underlying profit was £446.5 million.
• Jet2 operates flights to over 65 European destinations and is UK's third-largest scheduled airline.
• Eight-year-old Phoenix calmed a disruptive passenger on a Jet2 flight from Izmir to Manchester on Friday.
• James and Phoenix received free flight vouchers from Jet2 for preventing a costly diversion.
• Disruptive passenger was taken into police custody upon landing.

Profit warning and capacity cut

Jet2, the holiday giant and the United Kingdom's third-largest scheduled airline, has slashed its flight capacity for the upcoming winter season and warned that annual profits will land at the lower end of expectations. The company now expects underlying earnings for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, to fall between £449 million and £496 million, compared with £446.5 million the previous year. The group will trim seats on sale by 200,000 to 5.6 million for the winter season, though this still represents a 9% increase over the same period last year. The airline cited a 'difficult' market and said the trend of holidaymakers booking ever closer to departure has become 'more pronounced' since its last update in July.

A father and son avert a mid-air crisis

In a separate incident highlighting the human side of air travel, an eight-year-old boy named Phoenix helped calm a disruptive passenger on a Jet2 flight from Izmir, Turkey, to Manchester last Friday, preventing what could have been an expensive diversion. The boy's father, James, told BBC Radio Manchester that the woman was 'almost trying to smack the stewardesses' when he intervened. At James's request, cabin crew moved the woman to a seat between him and his son. Phoenix 'bounced into action', showing her his football cards, singing, and asking about her family. The woman gradually calmed down over the remaining three-and-a-half-hour journey.

Compassion and quick thinking praised

James described the stewardesses as 'fantastic' and credited his son's response, saying, 'The way he took over the situation, I've not seen anything like it.' Phoenix, a young Manchester United fan, said he 'got the confidence to calm her down' from making YouTube content about football, and showed the woman his cards of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. After a while, James noticed 'the tone in her voice was coming down'. He reflected, 'I'm sort of sat there in the end and I'm thinking to myself, thank god that Phoenix is with me because if he wasn't, I don't think I would have been able to handle it.' James still had to confiscate the woman's vape when she took it to the toilet, with Phoenix reminding her its usage was banned when she complained.

Diversion avoided, police await

Flight staff had been authorised to divert the plane due to the woman's behaviour before James suggested she sit near them. Upon touchdown, the woman was taken into police custody. The pilot shook hands with James and Phoenix, thanking them for their intervention, which prevented an expensive diversion for Jet2. Jet2 has since rewarded the pair with free flight vouchers, thanking them for 'showing the utmost compassion and kindness and care'. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel and the impact that passengers can have on flight operations.

From freight carrier to holiday giant

Jet2.com traces its roots to 1983, when it was founded as Channel Express in Bournemouth, primarily operating freight services for cargo, mail, and parcels. In 2002, the company rebranded its leisure flight business as Jet2.com, based at Leeds Bradford Airport. The first Jet2 passenger flight took off a year later from Leeds to Amsterdam. The airline steadily expanded routes to popular European holiday destinations, adding bases across the UK in Manchester, Newcastle, East Midlands, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London Stansted. In 2007, Jet2holidays was launched, offering package holidays. During the 2010s, Jet2 expanded heavily in Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and other Mediterranean markets.

Outlook amid market headwinds

Jet2's profit warning and capacity cut reflect broader challenges in the leisure travel sector, where consumer behaviour is shifting towards last-minute bookings and economic uncertainty weighs on demand. The company's decision to trim seats while still growing year-on-year suggests a cautious approach to managing capacity and costs. With earnings expected at the lower end of forecasts, Jet2 faces pressure to maintain profitability in a competitive market. The airline's ability to adapt to changing booking patterns and operational disruptions will be critical in the months ahead.

The bottom line

• Jet2 expects underlying profit for the year to March 31, 2026 at the lower end of £449m–£496m, up from £446.5m.
• Winter seat capacity cut by 200,000 to 5.6 million, still 9% higher than last year.
• Holidaymakers booking closer to departure, trend accelerating since July.
• Eight-year-old Phoenix helped calm a disruptive passenger, preventing a flight diversion.
• Father and son received free flight vouchers from Jet2 for their actions.
• Jet2 evolved from a freight carrier founded in 1983 to a major leisure airline and package holiday provider.