easyJet to open 10th UK base at London Southend Airport next spring signalling continued UK growth

22.05.2024 - 11:58 / traveldailynews.com / Johan Lundgren / Vicky Karantzavelou / Gran Canaria

The new UK base will open next March creating around 130 direct and supporting many more indirect jobs. Three A320neo aircraft will be based at London Southend, with six new routes launching to popular leisure destinations for summer 2025 and more to be announced in the coming weeks.

easyJet has announced it will be expanding its UK network by opening a three-aircraft base at London Southend next March. The investment will create around 130 direct jobs for pilots and crew in the UK and support many more indirect jobs.

The move signals easyJet’s continued expansion in the UK, having launched a base at Birmingham International Airport in March as part of the airline’s strategy to take advantage of key growth opportunities across its network.

The UK is easyJet’s largest market with 56% of all easyJet passengers flying to and from UK airports and this announcement comes as the airline is set to operate more UK flying than ever before this year with over 57 million seats – a 10% increase versus last year – and has launched 70 new routes from the UK, fuelled by strong consumer demand for easyJet’s flights and holidays.

Investing in a 10th base in the UK with three 186-seat A320neo aircraft at the airport strengthens easyJet’s network by positioning it as the carrier of choice to serve UK consumers and capture the continued demand for travel.

The airline already serves international routes from London Southend to popular beach and city destinations Amsterdam, Geneva, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Paris Charles de Gaulle and has flown over seven million customers from London Southend since operations began in 2012.

The planned addition of more aircraft is already enabling the airline to launch six new routes to Pisa, Gran Canaria, Dalaman and Antalya, Marrakech as well as Enfidha in Tunisia. easyJet holidays will be on sale from tomorrow with departures from 1 May 2025, meaning package holidays from London Southend will be available seven days a week, with flights on sale in the coming months.

Commenting on the expansion plans, 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, said:“We’re thrilled to welcome an easyJet base to London Southend, supporting and creating hundreds of jobs locally