Jet2holidays has overtaken Tui to become the UK's largest tour operator by Atol size, with boss Steve Heapy insisting that despite its rapid growth over the past five years, the Leeds-based won't waver in its commitment to customers and independent travel agents.

No, Jet2 has not taken over TUI; they remain fierce competitors in the European travel market. However, there has been a significant shift in the "rankings" of UK tour operators. In 2023 and continuing through 2026, Jet2holidays officially overtook TUI as the UK’s largest tour operator in terms of ATOL-protected passengers. While TUI was the long-standing market leader, Jet2’s aggressive expansion from regional UK airports and their reputation for high-quality customer service (the "Red Team") allowed them to capture a larger share of the package holiday market. TUI remains a massive global entity with its own cruise line, hotels, and a much larger international footprint beyond the UK. Jet2 focuses more heavily on the UK-to-Mediterranean market. The confusion often arises because Jet2 has acquired many "slots" and customers that previously belonged to defunct companies like Thomas Cook, but TUI continues to operate as an independent, publicly-traded German multinational company (TUI Group), maintaining its own fleet of aircraft and distinct branding.