Jet2.com announced last year that it would reintroduce the Airbus A330 to operations and has delivered on its promise. The carrier has leased two A330s from AirTanker, which will both be stationed at Manchester Airport this summer.

Jet2 resumes A330 operations

Budget airline Jet2.com has welcomed two Airbus A330-200s to its fleet to support its busy summer schedule. The first A330 flight took off on May 1st from Manchester Airport en route to Tenerife.

According to Jet2, both A330s will be based at Manchester Airport and serve several European holiday destinations, including:

  • Majorca
  • Faro
  • Tenerife
  • Antalya
  • Dalaman
Jet2 A330
The A330 will be stationed at Manchester Airport. Photo: Riik@mctr via Flickr.

Ian Doubtfire, Sustainability and Business Development Director at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said,

"Summer 22 is our biggest ever summer programme, demonstrating the huge demand that we continue to experience for our award-winning flights and holidays. The addition of AirTanker’s widebody Airbus A330 into our operation at Manchester Airport will help us increase capacity and meet this continued demand. The aircraft means we will continue delivering our VIP customer service, whilst providing even more choice for customers."

Flights scheduled until October

Jet2.com will continue operating the two Airbus A330s until the end of October. Simple Flying reported on Jet2's widebody plans to use two Airbus A330s in the summer, and the airline has made good on its plans.

The airline has "damp leased" (pilots but no cabin crew) the two jets from aviation lessor AirTanker. This partnership began in Summer 2017 when Jet2 first began operating the A330 and marks a return to A330 operations after nearly three years.

Tony Carder, AirTanker Director of Sales, said,

"We are delighted to be back operating on behalf of Jet2.com with two aircraft for the summer season, and we look forward to delivering a high level of service to Jet2.com and their customers. It is great to have two aircraft placed on stable damp leases after a challenging two years in the commercial market, and we very much look forward to a successful summer ahead."

Discover more aviation news with Simple Flying.

The two A330s

Jet2's A330s, G-VYGM and G-VYGL, are less than eight years old and are on lease from AirTanker. These two A330s are the same aircraft to have flown with Jet2 in previous summers.

The first A330 (G-VYGL) entered service on May 1st, operating Flight LS917 from Manchester to Tenerife.

Jet2 A330
G-VYGL was the first Airbus A330 to fly with Jet2.com back in 2017. Photo: Ken Fielding via Wikimedia

The second A330 (G-VYGM) began operations on May 26th with Flight LS831 from Manchester to Palma de Mallorca.

The aircraft offers a capacity of 327 passengers in an all-economy layout. Interestingly, both aircraft were initially earmarked as multiple-role tanker transports for the Royal Air Force before their conversion into passenger jets in 2016.

Have you flown with Jet2.com on one of its leased Airbus A330s before? How did you find the experience? Let us know your stories in the comments.