Package holiday and airline operator Jet2 is delaying the launch of its new base in Bristol.
The company had been due to open its tenth 海角视频 base at Bristol Airport on April 1, but will now launch on July 1.
The company will base three aircraft in Bristol and will be operating up to 56 flights a week. People who have booked flights with the holiday operator will be refunded automatically, according to the company.
Jet2 said it was "hugely encouraged" by feedback it had received on plans to open a base in Bristol.
“Moving the launch date to July 1 allows us to ready our brand-new operation at Bristol Airport, including the delivery of our VIP customer service which we know will be hugely popular with customers in the region," Jet2 told BusinessLive.
“Where customers yet to travel are affected by any programme changes, we will automatically cancel their booking with a full refund. Customers will also receive a discount code so that they can rebook their much-needed flights and holidays should they wish to.
"We have received praise from customers, consumer organisations, media and independent travel agents for our industry-leading and prompt refunding of over £1bn to customers whose travel plans have been affected by programme changes during the pandemic, and we will continue this customer-first approach.
“There is huge pent-up demand for our award-winning flights and holidays at Bristol Airport, and we are very excited about launching and growing successfully."
Most Read
The company added: “We would like to thank our valued customers for their patience and understanding.”
The holiday operator said it would be flying to 33 destinations, across mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Portugal.
The move will create 200 new jobs, including flight and cabin crew roles, as well as posts in engineering and ground operations, according to TTG.
Dave Lees, Bristol airport chief executive, said last year the news was a "major step" towards the future by creating job opportunities, providing significant investment and an increase in the choice of destinations and holidays available to customers in the region.
He said: “Never has the time been more important for the region to look to the future in a post-Covid world, and Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have shown the confidence in the strength of the region to open up their tenth 海角视频 operating base at Bristol airport."
Sign up for more business news straight to your inbox
Stay up to date with our daily newsletter, email breaking news alerts and weekly round-ups. To sign up, find out more and see all of our newsletters, follow the link here
The news comes as 海角视频 business organisation CBI confirmed it would support Bristol Airport’s expansion appeal.
Don’t miss
The airport's proposals to increase capacity from 10 million passengers to 12 million a year, while adding thousands more parking spaces, were thrown out after council chiefs said the environmental and societal costs outweighed the economic benefits.
The decision to reject the application went against advice from the council’s own planning officers, which meant it had to be ratified at a second meeting.
The CBI said the proposals would help meet the region’s growing demand for air travel, create new international opportunities for South West businesses and be a “significant step” towards the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
The expansion plans were rejected by councillors in North Somerset last year, with the transport hub lodging an appeal in September.