Jet2 Brings More Than 2.5 Million Customers to the Canary Islands in 2026 as Partnership with Lanzarote Grows
Jet2 is strengthening its relationship with Lanzarote and the wider Canary Islands tourism industry after carrying more than 2.5 million customers to the Canary Islands during 2026.
The figure was announced as Jet2 brought tourism businesses, accommodation providers and tourism representatives together for a series of “Partnership for Growth” events, including a dedicated event in Lanzarote.
For an island where the UK remains one of the most important international tourism markets, the continued expansion of Jet2's programme is significant for both visitors and businesses.
JET2 AND LANZAROTE: A GROWING PARTNERSHIP
Jet2's latest meeting in Lanzarote formed part of a series of events held across the Canary Islands. More than 300 people attended the events collectively, with representatives from hotels, villas, tourism organisations and government bodies taking part.
The aim is to look at the future of tourism to the islands, including opportunities for joint marketing and closer cooperation between Jet2 and local tourism businesses.
Turismo Lanzarote has also confirmed that the island took part in the September “Jet2 & Lanzarote: A Partnership for Growth” meetings as part of its work promoting Lanzarote in key international markets.
For Lanzarote, this isn't simply about aircrafts arriving at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport. A large UK tour operator brings customers who then spend money across the island – from hotels and apartments to restaurants, excursions, taxis, car hire, shops and attractions.
MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION JET2 CUSTOMERS TO THE CANARY ISLANDS
According to Jet2, the company carried more than 2.5 million customers to the Canary Islands in 2026.
Its current Canary Islands programme covers 58 routes, with up to 278 flights per week at peak times.
The programme now covers five Canary Islands: Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma, with La Palma becoming the newest destination in Jet2's Canary Islands network earlier this year.
The 2.5 million figure relates to the Canary Islands as a whole, rather than Lanzarote alone.
HOW IMPORTANT IS JET2 TO LANZAROTE?
Earlier in 2026, Jet2 announced plans for more than 420,000 arrival seats to Lanzarote during its summer programme, with around 70 weekly flights at peak periods.
That gives some idea of the scale of Jet2's operation on the island.
For holidaymakers in the UK, it means Lanzarote continues to have a substantial number of direct flight options from British airports, while for the island's tourism industry it provides an important source of visitors throughout the year.
JET2 SAYS THE CANARY ISLANDS GENERATED A MAJOR ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
Jet2 says its customers represented more than a third of all UK tourism to the Canary Islands in 2025.
The company also estimates that its activities contribute more than €2.1 billion annually to the Canary Islands economy, while it directly employs around 715 people across the islands.
The wider Jet2 programme currently includes 58 resorts, almost 550 hotels and more than 400 villas across the Canary Islands.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO LANZAROTE RESIDENTS
For people living in Lanzarote, airline capacity can sometimes seem like a statistic that only matters to tourists.
In reality, visitor numbers have a much wider effect.
British visitors staying on the island support a large network of local businesses. That includes accommodation, bars and restaurants, supermarkets, excursions, attractions, taxis, transfers, car rental companies and retail businesses.
More flights also give residents greater choice when travelling between Lanzarote and the UK, particularly for people who regularly visit family or friends in Britain.
For businesses dependent on international tourism, maintaining strong connections with major European markets is therefore an important part of the island's tourism economy.
LOOKING BEYOND THE SUMMER SEASON
One particularly interesting aspect of Jet2's strategy is its focus on longer-term cooperation rather than simply selling individual holidays.
The company says the Partnership for Growth meetings are intended to strengthen relationships with local businesses and identify opportunities for future collaboration and joint marketing.
That could become increasingly important as Lanzarote continues to develop its tourism strategy and looks at how to attract visitors throughout the year rather than concentrating demand solely on the traditional summer and Christmas periods.
Jet2 has also been involved in wider Canary Islands initiatives around regenerative tourism and sustainability. Earlier this year, Jet2holidays signed an agreement to participate in the Canary Islands' RegNext regenerative tourism programme.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IF YOU'RE PLANNING A LANZAROTE HOLIDAY?
For anyone considering a Lanzarote holiday from the UK, the latest figures underline just how well established the island's air links with Britain have become.
There are numerous direct connections, and Jet2's substantial programme sits alongside other airlines serving César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport.
For visitors, that means more choice when looking at flight dates, accommodation and package holidays.
And for those of us who live here, there's another side to the story: every aircraft arriving with holidaymakers represents potential business for the many people and companies that make Lanzarote's tourism industry work.
LANZAROTE REMAINS FIRMLY ON THE UK HOLIDAY MAP
Jet2's latest announcement doesn't mean that Lanzarote is receiving 2.5 million Jet2 visitors by itself – that figure covers the entire Canary Islands.
But the 420,000-plus arrival seats planned for Lanzarote during the 2026 summer programme, together with the company's continuing investment in the islands, demonstrates the scale of the connection between the UK and Lanzarote.
As we move into autumn 2026, the message from Jet2 and Lanzarote's tourism sector is clear: the relationship is not simply about the number of flights operating today, but about working together on the future of tourism in Lanzarote and the Canary Islands.
For an island whose economy relies heavily on tourism, those partnerships matter.
