While the summer of 2025 is just beginning to warm up the beaches, the engines of tourism are already looking far, far away. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, two of the British giants in the sector, have launched their flight and sun holiday program for the winter of 2026-27 with unprecedented advance notice, a decision that sends a strong and very positive signal to destinations such as Maspalomas and Mogán, in the south of Gran Canaria. With 4,4 million seats on sale, 4% more than the 2025-26 period, the commitment to the Canary Islands' winter sun is stronger than ever.
This June, Gran Canaria Tourism participated in the first 'Jet2 Destination Partnership Event', organized by the airline Jet2.com and tour operator Jet2holidays at Holiday House, Jet2's Leeds headquarters. The invitation to this exclusive event underscores the strategic importance of Gran Canaria as a priority destination for the UK's leading tour operator. The event addressed the most relevant topics and challenges currently facing the tourism sector. Discussions included analyses of booking behavior trends, which showed that while 25% of bookings are made well in advance, the number of late bookings is increasing. Approximately 45% of summer bookings are made after Easter, with different booking patterns depending on the customer profile.
The announcement, made by CEO Steve Heapy, underlines a "continued demand from customers wanting to escape the long British winter." And it is precisely here where the south of Gran Canaria shines brightly, with Maspalomas, Meloneras, Playa del Inglés, Puerto Rico, Amadores, and Puerto de Mogán leading the way. These are the favorite destinations for thousands of Britons looking to escape the cold and darkness. Among the 14 winter sun destinations that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have launched flights from their 13 base airports in the United Kingdom (including key hubs such as Manchester, Stansted, Leeds Bradford, and Birmingham), Gran Canaria figures prominently. Along with Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, our island is consolidating its position as one of the pillars of the tour operator's winter offering, which plans to operate more than 600 weekly outbound flights during peak periods to its sun-filled destinations.
For the tourism sector in southern Gran Canaria, this early sales and increased capacity are excellent news. It means that hotels, apartments, restaurants, tour companies, and businesses in Maspalomas and Mogán can plan with a long-term vision, anticipating the arrival of a steady flow of British tourists, one of the most important source markets for the island. It ensures a solid base of occupancy and, therefore, employment, vital to the local economy.
While route expansions to other destinations such as Morocco and Madeira, or new connections to Malaga and Palma, diversify Jet2's offering, loyalty to the Canary Islands, and in particular to the proven sun and beach formula of southern Gran Canaria, is undeniable. The confidence of an operator as large as Jet2.com and Jet2holidays' expansion of the enduring appeal of Maspalomas and Mogán for British winter tourists is a guarantee of stability and growth for the coming years. "We're not done yet," declared Steve Heapy, promising more announcements for the 26-27 winter program, which bodes well for an even brighter future for our sunny paradise.
