Season’s First Flight

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SOUTHEND Airport celebrated the first commercial flight of the year when holiday makers jetted off to Malaga.

Staff gave out complementary drinks and cupcakes at the brand new Skycafe in the departure lounge, as the first passenger flight took off from the airport, following a five-month hiatus.

John Upton, CEO Southend Airport, said: “On behalf of myself and the incredible team at London Southend, it is with great pleasure that we are once again able to do what we do best and serve our passengers, alongside our airline partner easyJet.”

EasyJet retuned to Southend airport last year, having quit operations during the pandemic, along with Ryanair and Wizz Air at the height of Covid 19.

Thereafter marked a difficult period, that saw the local airport struggle to regain its pre-pandemic flying numbers, making just 5 per cent of summer 2019’s passengers.

Mr Upton is planning expansion at the airport, and is confident the new routes, including to Amsterdam, will assist in the continued recovery.

He said: “Millions of people living in east London and the east of England need an airport that they can get to quickly and easily, Southend Airport is just that.”

“Many of this morning’s passengers arrived from London and from across Essex and the Southeast by train, demonstrating just how well connected we are.

“People can then travel through our modern airport terminal, and relax in our departures lounge, starting their well-earned holidays the right way.”

Destinations from the airport include Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Faro and the latest addition of Amsterdam.

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SOUTHEND Airport celebrated the first commercial flight of the year when holiday makers jetted off to Malaga.

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