new flights departing from London Southend Airport

Budget airline easyJet has confirmed the first eight destinations that will be served by new flights departing from London Southend Airport. Seventy flights a week will be brought to the Essex-based airport by the airline, heading to European destinations including Faro and Ibiza. Now, easyJet has released a statement announcing it will launch new flights to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Malaga and Mallorca from April 2012. Although each of these holiday hotspots is currently served by Stansted Airport, the impact on that hub is said to be 'minimal,' according to an easyJet spokesperson. “These are additional routes from Southend – not replacing our routes from Stansted. However, there may be a change in the frequency of our flights from Stansted to these destinations,” said the spokesperson. easyJet is planning to move three of its aircraft from Stansted to Southend, but has reiterated that this transfer will only have a 'slight effect' on easyJet's Stansted services. easyJet’s customer and revenue director, Catherine Lynn, said, “Southend airport is in a fantastic location just outside London with a fast rail link into the city. “Through offering easy and affordable travel, we expect the new routes to appeal to customers in Essex and London looking for a convenient new departure point for many top European destinations,” she added.