easyJet celebrates first take off from London Southend Airport
easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has been this week, celebrating its inaugural flight from London Southend Airport.
The first flight – which was to Belfast - took off on time at 06.15am Monday morning. It was followed by further flights to Barcelona and Amsterdam.
Catherine Lynn, easyJet's Customer and Revenue Director, commented "We are delighted to be checking in our first passengers from London Southend this morning. We have worked hand in hand with the airport for many months to make this a great passenger experience. We are confident that more than 800,000 passengers will enjoy the fast, convenient and friendly experience of travelling from London Southend over the next year."
The airline now flies daily from London Southend Airport with passengers having a choice of more than 70 flights per week to 10 European destinations including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Malaga, plus recently announced ski route Geneva.
London Southend Airport is easyJet’s eleventh UK base and it has brought three new A319 aircraft and over 150 employees to the airport. More than 800,000 passengers are expected to fly in the airline’s first year of take off.
London Southend Airport Managing Director, Alastair Welch, said "With £100 million invested, 500 new jobs created, 10 exciting new routes from easyJet, we are gearing up to reach 100 flights a week from London Southend Airport this summer. Today's first scheduled easyJet services mark a new beginning at the airport, and it is a very proud day for the entire team here at London Southend."
Each passenger boarding this morning’s first easyJet departures to Belfast and Barcelona from the new terminal was treated to fresh pastries, a commemorative stick of orange rock, a glass of champagne and a slice of a specially commissioned 6-foot long cake featuring Southend’s famous pier.
easyJet offers routes to Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Majorca, Malaga and Geneva from London Southend. Fares start from £17.99 (one-way including taxes) and are available to book at www.easyjet.com
