The deal with Boeing, which is worth around $2.6 billion at current list prices, will see the Next Generation 737-800s aircraft being delivered over the next two years. Jet2 said it had “negotiated significant discounts from the list price”.

Jet2 said the new aircraft would be used on routes in the Mediterranean, the Canary islands and “a combination of exciting European leisure cities”.

Philip Meeson, Jet2’s executive chairman, said: “Today’s order will provide Jet2 with the necessary cost-effective, reliable and comfortable environment to allow us to build upon our already highly successful family-friendly business. 

“We are extremely pleased to have finalised this order for more of what has already proven to be a popular aircraft within our fleet.”

Jet2 currently has a fleet of 58 Boeing aircraft but this is the company’s first direct order with Boeing. The 27 new aircraft will be delivered between September 2016 and April 2018

The airline’s parent company Dart Group is also due to hold its annual general meeting today.

Meeson said that the “good start to the financial year has continued with strong summer 2015 trading in our leisure travel business”.

“Demand for our package holiday products continues to grow and as a result the number of package holiday customers as a proportion of overall flown customer numbers has increased,” he added.

“The business has also achieved higher airline ticket yields and load factors than in summer 2014. This performance is against a backdrop of slightly lower seat capacity.

“Early indications for winter 15/16 leisure travel bookings are satisfactory.”