New London Southend Airport passenger terminal officially opened by Secretary of State for Transport

The all-new passenger terminal at London Southend Airport was officially opened today by Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP.

Visiting London Southend today, the Secretary of State was met by Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler, COO William Stobart, airport managing director Alastair Welch and easyJet CEO Carolyn McCall OBE. The first passengers to use the new ‘Fly Through’ terminal, named for its convenience and efficiency, landed from Waterford in Ireland on one of the daily Aer Arann Regional services to London Southend. From the 2ndof April, easyJet will start its schedule of daily flights from the airport, with 70 services per week to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Malaga and Mallorca.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP, said:

“This is a huge step forward for London Southend Airport. I would like to congratulate Stobart Group on the excellent facilities, which will make a real difference for passengers.”

“This is also good news for the region. Not only will the 500 new jobs created by the summer provide a real boost to the local economy and to the broader Thames Gateway region, the redevelopment will bring new opportunities to both business and tourism.”

“Regional airports have an important role to play in this country’s national infrastructure, and this impressive new facility comes at a key time – perfectly positioned for the 2012 Games just a train ride away in Stratford.”

Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler said:

“We are extremely proud of the work we have done here at London Southend Airport. Since early 2009 we have worked very hard to deliver on the promises we’ve made around bringing the airport back to a new era of prosperity. Now we are delivering on these promises, with new services to Ireland, over 500 new jobs created, a new railway station, new air traffic control tower, new terminal, new hotel, and we’re extending the runway for the start of easyJet services to nine destinations next month. There are very exciting times ahead for London Southend Airport and the broader south Essex and Thames Gateway region.”

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, commented:

“We are delighted that London Southend is now officially open – as the first new airport capacity in the south east for decades it is much needed! We have worked hand in hand with the Stobart Group to ensure we can deliver the very best airport experience for our passengers. We very much look forward to our start of services here from 2 April and encourage people to try London Southend for themselves. It is a brilliant new facility with fantastic transport links to London.”

Numerous new retail partners within the passenger terminal include W H Smith, Searcy’s catering with their Arnold & Forbes brand of café (also available on the airport train station platform) and Stobart Group’s very own, and first, Stobart Airport Shopping outlet for duty free.

Since Stobart Group purchased the airport in 2008, £100 million of private sector funds have been invested in the redevelopment of London Southend, with a predicted passenger growth to one million in the twelve months from April 2012 with the start of 70 easyJet services a week.