London Southend Airport __________________________________________________________________________________
Situated on the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea in Essex , England , London Southend Airport is one of six international airports serving the city of London , the world ’ s largest aviation hub by passenger traffic . However , having been voted as the ‘ Best London Airport ’ by Which ? for six consecutive years between 2013 and 2019 , it ’ s clear what sets London Southend apart – its unrivaled passenger experience .
The airport ’ s small terminal infrastructure enables an ‘ easy breezy experience ’ for passengers , with fast check-in , small security queues , and the ability to reach London in less than an hour via six direct trains per hour . Now one of the UK ’ s fastest-growing commercial airports , London Southend is steeped in history . From its early beginnings in both world wars , it later became a fully-fledged commercial airport in the mid-1950s and was the UK ’ s third busiest airport behind Heathrow and Manchester .
Fast-forward to 2008 , and the airport underwent significant upgrades , including a new state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and a mainline train station . A new passenger terminal was opened in March 2012 , followed by an on-site hotel , as part of London Southend ’ s target of serving two million passengers by 2020 .
Diverse destinations
Although the airport achieved this goal in 2019 , the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything when it hit the UK in 2020 . With the number of passengers dramatically declining and many airlines moving aircraft away from the site to protect slots at other London airports , London Southend remains in post-pandemic recovery mode . With easyJet set to return to the airport with new , more sustainable aircraft and exciting European destinations , 2025 will mark a significant year in recovery efforts .
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