Aviation minister Keir Mather MP has visited Jet2.com’s aircraft maintenance hangar at Leeds Bradford Airport to learn more about the ‘key role’ it plays in the industry.
The minister, who is MP for Selby, toured the facility on March 27, and heard how it helps to deliver operational excellence, industry-leading training and career opportunities.
He was shown around by Jet2’s chief operations officer Phil Ward and head of base maintenance Marcus Mountcastle.
Mr Ward said: “A huge amount of investment and hard work goes into running our award-winning operations, so it was great to welcome the Aviation Minister and give him a first-hand insight into why nothing beats a Jet2holiday.”
During the visit, Mr Mather met engineers and apprentices including Harry Richardson from his own constituency.
Jet2.com operates a fleet of 139 aircraft, and its Leeds Bradford hangar allows teams to work on three planes at once.
The company also has facilities at Manchester Airport with capacity for six aircraft, helping reduce reliance on overseas maintenance.
The company employs thousands across Leeds and Yorkshire, including nearly 200 from Mr Mather’s Selby constituency.
The visit highlighted Jet2.com’s apprenticeship programmes, which span aviation, engineering, IT, operations, commercial, marketing and finance.
More than 400 apprentices have started with the airline to date.
Mr Ward said: “As well as demonstrating how we continue to develop fantastic careers and invest in homegrown skills across the UK, we also discussed our plans for decarbonisation and some of the key levers that are needed to drive this, such as airspace modernisation and a thriving UK SAF industry.”
Currently, more than 30 apprentices are on Jet2.com’s four-year level three engineering programme.
The company emphasised the need for higher funding rates for engineers through the reformed growth and skills levy.
Mr Mather also learned about the Jet2FlightPath scheme, which gives aspiring pilots the opportunity to fly for the award-winning airline without having to self-fund the £100,000-plus cost of flight training.
Launched last year, 60 candidates are already working their way through a fully funded 18-month Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) training course.
Applications for this year’s programme opened last month. The visit also covered Jet2.com’s sustainability strategy.
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The airline has been repeatedly praised for its results-driven approach to decarbonisation, including support for airspace modernisation and the development of a UK sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry.
For more information or to book flights and holidays, visit jet2.com or jet2holidays.com.
