Jet2, formerly known as Channel Express, was founded in 1983 by Philip Meeson. The airline started out as a cargo airline, transporting small packages and mail for British Airways and Royal Mail. The airline has since evolved into a successful leisure airline, with a fleet of over 70 aircraft operating from 9 UK bases.

In 2000 Jet2 purchased the operating assets of British Airways from the British Regional Airlines Group. This included the fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and the operating licenses. The airline was rebranded as Jet2.com in 2002 and began to offer scheduled flights to holiday destinations.

Jet2 began to expand rapidly in the following years. In 2003 the airline opened its first base in Leeds Bradford Airport, followed by East Midlands Airport in 2004 and Newcastle Airport in 2005. Future base openings included Manchester Airport in 2006, Edinburgh Airport in 2007, Glasgow Airport in 2008, and Belfast International Airport in 2011.

In 2007 Jet2.com was voted the best low-cost airline in the UK. This was followed in 2008 by the launch of Jet2holidays. This was the first package holiday product launched by a low-cost carrier in the UK, and it allowed customers to book flights, hotels and transfers in one package.

In 2009 Jet2.com ordered 15 Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Boeing, which would be the first aircraft in the airline’s fleet to feature winglets. The airline also launched its own frequent flyer program, Jet2Rewards, in 2009.

In 2010 Jet2.com suffered its first major incident when one of its aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, had to make an emergency landing in Manchester due to a technical problem. The incident was investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and it was found that the aircraft had suffered a bird strike, leading to the emergency landing.

In 2011 Jet2.com was voted the best low-cost airline in the UK for the second time, and the airline opened its eighth base at Belfast International Airport. The following year Jet2.com took delivery of its first Airbus A321 aircraft, and it also launched a new business class cabin, Jet2Biz.

In 2013 Jet2.com launched a new route from Leeds Bradford Airport to Orlando, Florida, becoming the first UK low-cost airline to fly to the United States. This was followed in 2014 by the launch of Jet2CityBreaks, which allowed customers to book city breaks in Europe.

In 2015 Jet2.com opened its ninth base at Birmingham Airport, and it also took delivery of its first Embraer 195 aircraft. The airline also launched a new in-flight entertainment system, Jet2Entertainment, which allows passengers to access a wide range of movies, TV shows, and games.

In 2016 Jet2.com launched its tenth base at London Stansted Airport and also took delivery of its first Boeing 757 aircraft. The airline also launched the ‘Jet2Cares’ initiative to provide passengers with better customer service and more flexible ticketing options.

In 2017 Jet2.com announced plans to open its eleventh base at London Gatwick Airport. The airline also launched its new ‘Pets in the Cabin’ service, which allows customers to bring their pets on board select flights.

Jet2.com has come a long way since its founding in 1983. From its humble beginnings as a cargo airline, the airline has established itself as a successful leisure airline with a fleet of over 70 aircraft and 11 bases across the UK. Jet2.com’s commitment to providing excellent customer service and innovative products has enabled it to become one of the most successful low-cost airlines in the UK.