easyJet confirms London Southend move

easyJet has confirmed plans to launch a hub at London Southend Airport from Apr-2012, ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games (Business Weekly, 16-Jun-2011). The London Luton-based LCC will base three A319 aircraft at Southend and more employee 150 people. easyJet and London Southend expect 800,000 passengers are expected to fly from Southend in the first year. The airline plans to operate 70 weekly services from the airport, to some 10 European destinations including Barcelona, Faro and Ibiza. An easyJet spokesman said it had not yet been determined whether Stansted would lose any routes to Southend. London Southend, which has overhauled its strategy in recent years to target the scheduled short-haul market, will be easyJet's 11th UK base and 20th European base. easyJet has signed a 10-year partnership agreement with airport owners Stobart Group. [more]