Current Developments
Plans for an extension to the new terminal have been passed by the local council, allowing for construction to start by the end of 2012 and thereby facilitating growth to the targeted 2 million passengers per year. The planned 90 metre extension to the terminal will create a larger departure lounge, an increase in the number of check-in desks and baggage drop off points, as well as more security screening channels.
A new four-star Holiday Inn Hotel located adjacent to the airport entrance opened on October 1, 2012 and is owned by the Stobart Group. It boasts the only rooftop restaurant in Essex and is also open to the public.
Easyjet announced further routes on 26 March 2012, a seasonal winter route to Geneva commencing in December 2012, and to Venice from February 2013.
On August 30, 2012, OLT Express Germany announced that it would commence seasonal flights to Saarbrucken using a Fokker 100 aircraft - these will start on 20 October 2012. Later on the 5th September 2012, OLT confirmed Dresden as a new route commencing from the 15th of October 2012.
Maastricht Airlines, a Dutch start-up airline, announced interest to fly to Maastricht in 2014 using Fokker 50 aircraft.
On the 26 October 2012, EasyJet announced it is to base a 4th Airbus 319 at Southend with two new routes to Berlin and Kraków starting on the 17 June 2013.
It has also been announced that Thomas Cook will sell Easyjet seats. For the first time this will see Thomas Cook at the airport.
In November 2012, TUI Travel announced they would operate package holidays from Southend to Palma de Mallorca, flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing at 7.30am and returning on 1.30pm. The Spanish low cost airline Volotea were confirmed as the operator.
Shortly after easyJet's declaration to fly from the base, Dutch start-up Join Airlines and French start-up ViaTriskel proclaimed their interest for Southend to be the gateway to London for their passengers. Nothing more has been heard from the latter, however in November 2012 the former said they will start operations in February 2013, and they will fly to Southend - though it is not clear whether Southend will be one of their first destinations. If theses claims are true, the airline will fly to Caen in France, Amsterdam, Cologne, Manchester and possibly Groningen. If this materializes, then an ATR 42, ATR 72 or Fokker 100 aircraft will be used, all of which have/do operate at the airport.
Read more about this topic: London Southend Airport
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