easyJet will open its 10th UK base at London Southend Airport (SEN/EGMC) from March next year directly creating around 130 jobs in the local area.
Three Airbus A320neo airliners will be based at the Essex airport enabling the budget airline to launch six new routes from Southend.
easyJet already serves Amsterdam, Geneva, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Paris from Southend but will add Pisa, Gran Canaria, Dalaman, Antalya, Marrakech and Enfidha.
Being a base airport easyJet will employ pilots and cabin crew at the airport and also indirectly support more jobs in the local area with the additional flights.
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “We are delighted to be announcing another three-aircraft base in the UK, at London Southend Airport. This will create hundreds of jobs and provide more choice for consumers with new routes and package holidays.
“Our continued growth and investment in the UK highlights the importance of the market where this year we will operate more flying than ever before with our customers choosing our flights and holidays because of our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares.”
John Upton , CEO of London Southend Airport, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome an easyJet base to London Southend, supporting and creating hundreds of jobs locally as well as convenient, new and returning connections to many popular leisure and city destinations.
“This move is indicative of the demand from people in the east of London, Essex and the wider East Anglia region who now have greater opportunities to choose to travel through our well connected, quick and easy airport. easyJet passengers will start their holiday sooner at London Southend as they relax and discover our award-winning terminal experience.
“Our dedicated on-site rail station is less than one hour from central London; only 43 minutes from Stratford, London with connections to the Elizabeth Line; and only 100 paces from the terminal door.”
The news comes as easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren announced he was standing down as CEO from early 2025 and being replaced by the current CFO, Kenton Jarvis.
