The UK’s largest airline easyJet and London Southend Airport are celebrating the launch of flights to Venice by recreating the Italian city’s Grand Canal – complete with gondola – in the airport terminal.
The new service – which will operate four days a week on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - starts on Friday 8 February 2013.
Flights will cost from as little as £26.49* one way including taxes, giving travellers an easy and affordable way of visiting one of the world’s most romantic cities - famed for its picturesque waterways, piazzas and artistic masterpieces - just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Passengers travelling on the inaugural flight will be treated to a Venetian themed celebration. Along with the Grand Canal reconstruction, there will also be performances from the Southend Operatic Society of songs from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers. A Rossi Ice Cream Gondolier will be handing out sweet treats and there will also be a giant easyJet / LSA Pizza from Feelgoods Pizza, Pasta, Play on Southend seafront.
Hugh Aitken, easyjet’s UK Commercial Manager commented “We’re extremely pleased to be celebrating the launch of easyJet’s new route from London Southend to Venice. The city is one of Italy’s most visited leisure destinations and I’m sure it will be very popular with our customers from Essex and London alike.”
Over half a million passengers have flown easyJet from London Southend since the airline’s inaugural flight in April 2012, making it the fastest growing airport in the region. easyJet has also announced the launch of three new routes for Summer 2013 from London Southend - to Krakow in Poland, Germany’s capital Berlin and Newquay, bringing the total number of destinations served by the airline from the Essex airport to fourteen.
London Southend Airport Managing Director Alastair Welch said “As our first direct service to Italy for some years, the route to Venice gives travellers in Essex and East London the chance to show someone special just how romantic they are!'”
