30 new jobs at LBIA

TOUR operator Jet2holidays.com is to create 30 jobs at Leeds Bradford International Airport after moving its overseas call centre from India.

Based at the company’s headquarters at Leeds Bradford Airport, the centre will employ travel agents, former travel reps and other people with experience in travel and tourism.

The centre had been moved to Gurgaon in Delhi, India, in June 2007.

Katriona White, call centre sales manager at Jet2holidays.com, said: “We have been successfully running the overseas call centre for more than a year now, but feedback from our customers showed that they wanted an enhanced service where they can book a holiday with people who have first-hand experience of our destinations.

“Jet2.com has a strong established relationship with its outsourced call centre provider in Delhi and is actually in the process of extending that particular contract. However, there are significant differences between booking or amending a flight and booking a Jet2holiday for customers."

She said despite being an online business, Jet2.com's holiday customers wanted "the option of friendly reassurance and expert advice on the end of the phone".

The company, which offers package holidays to Europe, Egypt and the USA from six UK airports, said it had enjoyed a successful summer season as holidaymakers looked to escape poor weather in the UK in search of sunshine.

Jet2.com is a subsidiary of Dart Group, the aviation services and distribution group, which is based at Leeds Bradford Airport.

"This great news for the area" says David Pank, Sales and Marketing Director with Estate Agents Manning Stainton who have offices in Guiseley and Horsforth. He continued "Whether giving jobs to local people or bringing in fresh talent it is certainly a boost for the district and its housing market".