£30m terminal for Southend

A new terminal costing £30m has been opened at Southend Airport under plans to attract two million passengers a year.

The new terminal will create 500 jobs and allow the airport to operate 70 services per week. Previously, Southend Airport had been a small local airport, operating only infrequent flights.

It was opened by Transport Secretary Justine Greening today who said it was an example of how regional airports can contribute towards economic growth, at a time of growing debate over the need for a new hub in the London area.

Ms Greening said: "The current debate on the future of aviation in our country as a whole has focused on hubs such as Heathrow and Gatwick.

"Our regional airports have an absolutely vital part to play in making sure the aviation sector remains competitive and continues to serve businesses and the community."

The terminal, complete with new control tower and runway, is described as the biggest airport development in the South East for decades.

Alastair Welch, managing director of Stobart Air, said: "We are never going to be Heathrow and we don't want to be.

"We want to retain our focus on customer services and we never want passengers to spend more than four minutes at security or take longer than 15 minutes from aircraft to station platform."

EasyJet will begin operating 70 services, including flights to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast and Malaga, next month.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, said: "As the first new airport capacity in the South East for decades, London Southend is much needed.

"It is a brilliant new facility with fantastic transport links to London."