Jet2 has made a historic announcement for passengers with flights booked between May and November. The airline has launched its first-ever services to Palermo, the capital of Sicily, from Birmingham Airport.
Inaugural Flight from Manchester
The inaugural flight departed from Manchester Airport on Friday, 1 May, marking the start of Jet2's operations to the Italian destination. The busy flight signifies the airline's entry into the Sicilian market for the first time this summer.
Service Details
From Manchester Airport, Jet2 will operate twice-weekly services on Tuesdays and Fridays to Palermo until 3 November 2026. To celebrate the launch, holidaymakers on the first flight received a VIP welcome from Jet2's Red Team, and one lucky customer was surprised with a pair of free return flights.
Birmingham and Newcastle Routes
Passengers from the Midlands and Northeast can also reach Sicily. Flights from Birmingham Airport begin on Wednesday, 6 May, with weekly Wednesday services until 28 October 2026. From Newcastle International Airport, weekly Tuesday services start on Tuesday, 26 May, and run until 3 November 2026. All routes to Palermo are exclusive to Jet2.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are delighted to see Jet2’s first flight to Palermo take-off from Manchester Airport. To celebrate this new addition to our Summer 2026 programme to Italy, we had our trademark red branding at the gate of the inaugural flight and also surprised one lucky customer with a pair of free return flights. We have no doubt that Palermo will be a popular destination for customers and independent travel agents looking to book getaways that combine culture and sunshine, and we look forward to taking them on our award-winning flights and holidays.”
