Jet2 is reporting a ‘material increase’ in the number of customers choosing a package holiday for next year.

Ahead of the company’s AGM today, Chief Executive Chairman Philip Meeson said: “Package holiday customer numbers as a proportion of total departing customers [are] showing a material increase. Therefore, we remain optimistic that summer 22 will be a considerable improvement on both summer 20 and summer 21.”

However, bookings for winter 21/22 have not picked up since early July and the programme remains under review.

Mr Meeson said  Jet2.com and Jet2 holidays have been flying to 32 green and amber destinations since 19 July, with a programme at 55% of its summer 2019 capacity.

“Unsurprisingly, given the continuing short-term uncertainty resulting from the UK Government’s three weekly review of its traffic light system, customers are booking significantly closer to departure for summer 21,” he said.

“Despite the limited booking visibility, pleasingly, we have generated positive financial contribution from the flying to date, supported by our quick to market, flexible operating model.

“The slower momentum for winter 21/22 bookings which we reported in our preliminary results in early July has remained.

“As a result, bookings have yet to match our on-sale seat capacity and therefore pricing for both our leisure travel products – end-to-end package holidays with Jet2holidays and flight-only seats with Jet2.com – will need to remain consistently enticing. The overall winter 21/22 capacity remains under continuous review.”

Summer 22 bookings are ‘encouraging’, with load factors at the same point ahead of summer 19, Mr Meeson added.

“Package holiday customer numbers as a proportion of total departing customers [are] showing a material increase. Therefore, we remain optimistic that summer 22 will be a considerable improvement on both summer 20 and summer 21,” he said.