TUI launches winter and summer holiday programme from Gatwick Airport

The firm said there will be thousands of free kids’ places, low deposits from £75 per person and £0 deposit on direct debit bookings made online on offer.

A spokesman added: “This comes as 86 per cent of customers surveyed in September said they expect to have gone on holiday again by next summer - reinforcing the growing appetite for future travel post Covid-19.

“With on-going travel corridor uncertainty for some regular favourites this winter, those craving sunshine during the coldest months have already booked for next winter, with strong demand in particular for Jamaica so far from the extensive range of 41 destinations on sale from Gatwick Airport.”

Richard Sofer, commercial and business development director at TUI said: “Our latest customer survey and booking patterns for next summer indicate that the great British public are looking forward to future holidays even more so as they may have been unable to take one this year.

“This is why we have launched our future holiday programmes through to the end of October 2022, so that families and couples alike can plan ahead to next year and beyond to make informed choices about what will make their perfect holiday from the wide range we have on offer.”

The winter 2021/2022 programme will see the reintroduction of flights to Puerto Vallarta and an increased number of flights to Lanzarote, Cancun, Boa Vista, Jamaica and Sharm El Sheikh, the firm said. TUI customers flying from Gatwick Airport will also have access to the Marella Cruises Asia sailing programme, including itineraries such as Eastern Spices 1 and Journey to the Orient 1.

With 57 per cent of customers saying they expect to book a Mediterranean beach holiday for 2021, TUI anticipates greater demand for summer 2022 as people want to ‘make up’ for not being able to go away this year. So far, Greece is the standout destination of choice based on current bookings for next summer, with Turkey and Egypt also popular, and patterns indicate these trends could continue into 2022.

The summer 2022 programme from Gatwick Airport will see 61 destinations on offer, including eight long haul hotspots, Cancun, Florida, Punta Cana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta and Aruba. TUI will also fly daily to Antalya and Dalaman and will operate to Majorca, Cancun and Tenerife six days a week.

Stephen King, Head of Airline Relations, Gatwick Airport said: “The launch of TUI’s flights for winter ’21 and summer ’22 is great news for passengers looking to book in advance and have a holiday to look forward to, following the difficult time we’ve all endured. TUI offers a range of excellent holiday options – both short and long-haul – allowing passengers to chase the sun year-round.”

TUI is seeing an upward trend in 4 and 5-star all-inclusive hotel bookings for next summer, with over 40 per cent of customers surveyed expressing this preference, the firm said. This includes hotels which offer the ‘best of both worlds’ with villas or room options with private pools and accommodation as families in particular seek to continue to feel safe in their ‘bubble’. TUI will be offering 233 different options in 155 hotels for this growing category in summer 2021 and expects this trend to continue for summer 2022.

In the same vein, 18 per cent of customers surveyed said they would look to book a villa holiday with car hire included, making social distancing easier on holiday. TUI is offering 150 villas with flights and car hire included for summer 2021 and summer 2022 in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, mainland Spain, Portugal, Italy and Florida.