EASY JET TO START FLYING FROM SOUTHEND AIRPORT
It has been announced today that from the July, EasyJet will move 3 aircraft and 150 staff from Stansted to Southend Airport.
A 10 year deal has been signed which will enable 70 flights a week between Southend to destinations including Barcelona, Ibiza and Faro.
EasyJet will be operating three Airbus A319 planes and tickets will go on sale at the end of next month.
EasyJet customer and revenue director Catherine Lynn said: "We are excited to be opening Southend. The airport is in a fantastic location just outside London with a fast rail link into the city.
"Through offering easy and affordable travel, we expect the new routes to appeal to customers in Essex and London looking for a convenient new departure point for many top European destinations. We also believe that the European city links will also attract a high number of inbound business and leisure passengers to London next year.
The airport's managing director, Alastair Welch, said: "We are delighted to announce our partnership with easyJet.
"This summer we open a dedicated railway station with up to eight services an hour to Stratford – site of the 2012 Olympic Games, and to London Liverpool Street station, both in well under an hour.
"A new state-of-the-art control tower is now operational, work on our runway extension is under way, as is a new terminal building to be completed this autumn, and a new hotel that will open in 2012."
