With more relevance to Jet2, Privilege Style 757-200 EC-ISY performed its first flight of the summer to ACE this morning, after being ferried from MAD to MAN yesterday.
As many have said, the 737-800, as great an aircraft as it is, isn't suitable to haul 189 people to the big apple. The 757 is a perfect fit to Jet2's fleet. Jet2 will keep it for as long as they can - they're maintained to a very high standard, and hence, still have a lot of life in them yet. Aircraft leasing is not something Jet2 are very fond of, given their seasonal nature. Owning the aircraft outright means that losses in the winter, will not be so big. The reality is, a big lease could crush Jet2 in the winter. The best way for Jet2 to continue to grow, is to do as they have been - 3-4 second hand aircraft additions every year, most owned outright.
As I have mentioned, anything smaller than the 757 for transatlantic routes is useless, that includes both the A321 and 738. Irrespective of what you might think, no A321 is going to haul a full load of passengers and their 22kg luggage each, all the way to New York, without stopping mid-route. I would think one or two second hand 767-300ER(WL), (maybe in the region of 8-10 years old) bought outright would be a lot more appropriate for Jet2. They're very flexible, just like their sister, and would fly packed trunk bucket and spades to the likes of TFS, ALC, PMI, DLM etc. during the summer, and offer extra capacity on the seasonal New York flights during the winter. Jet2 have already expressed their interest in bigger capacity aircraft, with the 767 pilot recruitment in 2010, and the fallen through lease of the A330 this year.