Cadiz, Spain. Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said bookings to Cyprus are falling sharply as travellers choose western Mediterranean destinations amid uncertainty linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Heapy said demand is shifting toward Spain and Italy.
Bookings decline and cancellations rise
Speaking during the airline’s annual conference in Cadiz on Tuesday, Heapy said “bookings to Cyprus and Turkey are drying up, cancellations are up and our aircraft are emptying.”
Shift in demand to Spain and Italy
Heapy said demand is moving to Spain and Italy and urged hotel partners in those countries to maintain competitive pricing.
Airline response and reassurance efforts
Heapy said Jet2 is working to reassure customers about safety, adding that Cyprus remains a secure option despite the drop in demand. He said Jet2 is offering special deals to encourage travel to Cyprus and is deploying additional resources to manage the disruption.
Outlook for recovery
Heapy said holidays to Cyprus and Turkey are expected to recover quickly once the conflict ends. “I think we should all be prepared for a fairly rapid end to the conflict and a fairly sharp recovery when that happens,” he said.
Operations and coordination with partners
Jet2’s Cyprus routes remain operational, and the company is coordinating with hotels and agents to reassure travellers.
Similar comments from easyJet
Heapy’s comments followed remarks made a day earlier by easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis, who said the conflict was driving bookings to destinations such as Spain and away from Turkey and Cyprus. Jarvis said the war, now in its fourth week, has already affected bookings, with customers moving away from booking trips to Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus.
How has the shift in travel demand affected your plans for trips to Cyprus or the western Mediterranean?
