Jet2 to open new base at Tenerife South

During low season, about 200,000 seats will be offered, rising to 330,000 in summer, nearly doubling the number available across airlines throughout the islands, which will rise to 773,000 in winter alone.

Canary Island regional tourism minister Yaiza Castilla calls this 'great news', since it will mean a total of 1.8 million flight seats available to and from the archipelago year-round.

Of these, 1.1 million will be Jet2 passengers between April and October 2020, not counting the rest of the year, Sra Castilla said following a meeting she and regional president Ángel Víctor Torres held at London's World Travel Market (WTM) with Jet2's managing director for airports and tourism organisations, Janice Matter, and head of business development, Ian Doubtire.

At present, the Leeds-based carrier runs from a further eight UK airports and has become the number one airline between Britain and the Canary Islands, transporting 1.3 million passengers in 2018.

Its decision to invest further in the Canary Islands is very welcome following the Thomas Cook collapse, which saw one of the region's other main UK-based carriers and package holiday organisers suddenly cease all trade overnight.

Jet2's new base may also soften the blow for the region if Irish airline Ryanair goes ahead with its announced plans to close two of its own in the Canary Islands.