Home Travel EasyJet plans to turn city breaks into package holidays as bosses take on Tui and Booking.com… here’s where you can get a bargain this year

EasyJet plans to turn city breaks into package holidays as bosses take on Tui and Booking.com… here’s where you can get a bargain this year

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Demand for easyJet Holidays increased in 2024 with UK customers increasing from 1.9 million to 2.6 million

EasyJet has revealed plans to turn city breaks into package holidays as it tries to get customers to book all their overseas travel through the low-cost airline.

Short-term city breaks could be sold as package holidays in the future, as the Luton-based company puts tens of thousands more rooms on sale with its flights.

The move will increase pressure on rivals such as Ryanair, which does not have a holiday division, and tour operators such as Tui and OnTheBeach, which focus on beach resorts.

EasyJet is also trying to gain an advantage over online travel agencies, including Booking.com, which are currently used by most of their air-only travelers to book hotels.

The airline launched its easyJet Holidays operation in November 2019 and demand increased last year, with customers in the UK rising from 1.9 million to 2.6 million.

But this was only a 5 to 7 per cent increase in UK package holiday market share, compared with Tui and Jet2, which have almost 20 per cent each.

Now easyJet’s new chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, is trying to maximize the potential of the Holidays division, already the group’s most profitable division.

The company is also trying to capitalize on a rebound in interest in city visits in Europe after a post-Covid drop in demand as Brits headed to the beaches.

Demand for easyJet Holidays increased in 2024 with UK customers increasing from 1.9 million to 2.6 million

EasyJet has added trips to Tromso in Norway, aimed at those hoping to see the Northern Lights.

EasyJet has added trips to Tromso in Norway, aimed at those hoping to see the Northern Lights.

EasyJet also offers breaks to Strasbourg, a city popular for its Christmas market.

EasyJet also offers breaks to Strasbourg, a city popular for its Christmas market.

City break trips now account for 47 per cent of easyJet demand, having accounted for 42 per cent when travel restrictions were lifted and more than half pre-Covid.

easyJet’s most popular city break destinations

  • Amsterdam
  • Paris
  • Barcelona
  • Rome
  • Krakow
  • Lisbon
  • Prague
  • Reykjavik
  • Copenhagen
  • Sedan

Mr. Jarvis told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘These are very popular routes. Amsterdam, for example, will be one of our busiest destinations this winter. However, nowadays almost everyone travels independently and books their own room.

“What we have to do is convince people who come to us for flights that we can also offer quality accommodation at a cheaper price, which happens seven times out of ten.”

He also noted that city-break travelers tend to care more about a hotel’s location than beach-bound travelers, who are more interested in the quality of accommodations.

Mr Jarvis said: “If you go to Rhodes, you want a hotel that is on the beach, that has three or four restaurants, tennis courts etc., but don’t worry about where it is.”

“But if you go to Paris, you might want to be in Montmartre, or near the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, and location becomes the most important thing.”

EasyJet Holidays told MailOnline that popular city break destinations for 2025 include Amsterdam, Krakow and Paris, with the first few months of the year being a popular time to visit.

Cities see particularly high demand for adults-only bookings, although Paris is popular with families given the appeal of Disneyland Paris.

Three nights at the 4* Staycity Paris Marne La Vallee in Paris on a room-only basis, including flights from Luton on February 4, cost £125 per person (based on two adults and two children).

Three nights at the 4* Staycity Paris Marne La Vallee in Paris on a room-only basis, including flights from Luton on February 4, cost £125 per person (based on two adults and two children).

Paris is a popular city break destination for families given the appeal of Disneyland Paris (above)

Paris is a popular city break destination for families given the appeal of Disneyland Paris (above)

Three nights at the 4* Zaan Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam in Amsterdam are available through easyJet Holidays for £182 per person, including flights from Edinburgh on 3 February.

Three nights at the 4* Zaan Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam in Amsterdam are available through easyJet Holidays for £182 per person, including flights from Edinburgh on 3 February.

Amsterdam is also one of the most booked destinations for city breaks according to easyJet.

Amsterdam is also one of the most booked destinations for city breaks according to easyJet.

The firm gave three examples of trips that will be offered next month with accommodation only, including:

  • Three nights at the 4* Staycity Paris Marne La Vallee in Paris on a room-only basis for £125 per person (based on two adults and two children), including flights from London Luton on February 4;
  • Three nights at the 4* Zaan Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam in Amsterdam for £182 per person, including flights from Edinburgh on February 3; and
  • Three nights at the 4* Premier Krakow hotel in Krakow for £157 per person, including flights from London Gatwick on 2 February.

EasyJet has also recently added trips to Tromso, Norway, aimed at those hoping to see the Northern Lights; and Strasbourg, popular for its Christmas market.

Three nights at the 4* Premier Krakow hotel are on sale for £157 per person, including flights from London Gatwick on February 2.

Three nights at the 4* Premier Krakow hotel are on sale for £157 per person, including flights from London Gatwick on February 2.

Krakow is among the best city breaks for easyJet Holidays customers

Krakow is among the best city breaks for easyJet Holidays customers

And its recent Travel Trends report highlighted the rise of the “small town seeker.”

This was defined as: ‘Travel to smaller towns to avoid the crowds and experience a more unique place than the usual heavy hitters.’

“Destinations across Europe have a variety of smaller cities that still offer activities, culture and experiences in abundance, i.e. Girona instead of Barcelona, ​​or Rimini instead of Rome.”

EasyJet offers beach and city holidays to more than 7,000 hotels in more than 100 destinations in Europe and North Africa, directly through its website and through more than 7,000 partner travel agents.

The firm lists its most popular city break locations on its website as Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, ​​Rome, Krakow, Lisbon, Prague, Reykjavik, Copenhagen and Berlin.

EasyJet highlighted the rise of

EasyJet highlighted the rise of the “small town finder”, where people “travel to smaller towns to avoid the crowds and experience a more unique place”, such as Girona (pictured).

1737054300 494 EasyJet plans to turn city breaks into package holidays as

Another destination for “small town seekers” was suggested as Rimini (above), instead of Rome.

easyJet's new CEO Kenton Jarvis, who took over on January 1, is trying to maximize the potential of the Holidays division, which is already the group's most profitable division.

easyJet’s new CEO Kenton Jarvis, who took over on January 1, is trying to maximize the potential of the Holidays division, which is already the group’s most profitable division.

Their website also claims their city break packages were viewed more than 750,000 times last month.

In October 2024, easyJet reported pre-tax profits of £610m for the year to September 30, up 34 per cent on £455m 12 months earlier.

Trading was boosted by strong demand for easyJet Holidays, and the division saw its pre-tax profits rise to £190 million, up 56 per cent on the previous year. This was driven by a growth in customer numbers of 36 percent.

EasyJet also carried 7 per cent more passengers in its most recent 12-month period, at 89.7 million.

Jarvis, who was previously easyJet’s chief financial officer, replaced Johan Lundgren as chief executive on 1 January. Jarvis has been with the group since February 2021.

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