EasyJet to create new London airport... in Southend

The Essex seaside resort of Southend was unveiled today as the new base for easyJet, which will launch 70 flights a week on 10 scheduled routes in April.

About one million passengers will fly in and out of London Southend in its first year, when it is likely to be heavily used by Olympic visitors.
But this is forecast to double, making it almost as big as City Airport. Airline bosses claim it will become an alternative to Gatwick and Stansted.

Catherine Lynn, the airline's customer and revenue director, said: "In summer 2012 we're expecting to see huge demand from passengers right around Europe to come to London.

"We expect easyJet to fly more people into London next summer than any other airline, and Southend will be the closest large airport to the Olympics. We're going to maintain our regular services - this is an opportunity to increase our capacity."

Three new routes have already been confirmed - Barcelona, Faro and Ibiza - but other destinations expected to be served from Southend include Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam,Berlin, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast. The airline says it expects to attract many holidaymakers heading to the Spanish resorts but also those wanting to go on city breaks and business travellers.

Three Airbus A319 jets will be based at Southend.
It says flights will be 20 minutes shorter than from the other big London airports because Southend is clear of the air traffic congestion over much of London.

Managing director Alastair Welch said: "Our size means no passenger will ever queue for more than four minutes for security, and as we've designed the airport only for short-haul travel, with 10 aircraft stands, there won't be long distances to travel through the terminal."

The airport will be served by a new railway station with eight trains an hour making the 52-minute journey to Liverpool Street.

The airport is owned by the Stobart Group, the trucking firm, which paid £21 million for it in 2008. It has invested £60 million on a new control tower, a runway extension, a new terminal building due to be finished this autumn and the railway station. A new hotel is due to open next year.

The regeneration will create about 300 new jobs, half with the airline and half at the airport. Stobart is promising that passengers carrying hand luggage only will get from plane to train in 15 minutes, and Ms Lynn added: "The journey time into the city centre will be really competitive.

On an inbound basis we're expecting a very healthy proportion of business travellers."
But angry residents have launched a legal action against plans to extend the runway.

"Transport is a big issue as our roads are already heavily congested," said Denis Walker of the Stop Airport Extension Now group. "There is a train station being built but I think the majority of people won't want to have to take their cases on the train.

"20,000 houses are under the flight path, and the noise is a big issue for residents, many of whom live very close to the runway." The group, which has more than 300 members, claims 60 per cent of residents oppose the plans to expand the airport,
and also hit out at the "extremely small" number of jobs the plan will create.

Southend was Britain's third biggest airport half a century ago and served as the initial base for Sir Freddy Laker's pioneering cut-price New York service. However, it fell into rapid decline with the rise of Gatwick and Stansted and now has only a handful of flights a week to Jersey and to Galway and Waterford in Ireland.

It is close to the mid-Thames estuary site suggested as an alternative to Heathrow by Boris Johnson.

Other locals welcomed the decision but raised concerns about extra traffic. Andy Innell, 50, owner of the Pier West café, said: "It's wonderful news. It will bring more money to businesses in the town. I'm sure some people who objected to the expansion will not be happy but they don't want an airport there in the first place.

"Personally I think it's fantastic news. I'm sure some of the people using the airport will come into town and spend their money. I'm very pleased."