Holly Thomas-Wimpress, who works at Westway Travel in Thorpe Bay, was over the moon at the announcement yesterday that easyJet would re-open its base and offer six new routes to flyers.
According to Holly, the move is a sign that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic could “finally be in the past”.
She added the new investment will see Southend Airport grow further to become a big-hitting airport attracting flyers from across London and the South East.
She said: “We are so happy about the news.
“At Westway, we have access to the full range of Southend destinations and it has become a larger offering over time.
“When customers come here from the surrounding areas and say they want a flight from Southend, we do feel we are supporting our area.
“This will definitely set Southend Airport to become a major airport and not just a small city airport, it can cater to the wider market and it is a really big help for us too.”
From March, fliers from Southend will be able to enjoy Turkey’s turquoise coast in Dalaman and Antalya, Pisa’s leaning tower, the markets of Marrakech and the famous beaches of Gran Canaria.
Customers can also see look forward to seeing historic Tunis, thanks to the proximity of Enfidha to one of north Africa’s hidden gems.
The announcement of the new investment comes after a determined fightback from the pandemic.
Flights were grounded around the world during the Covid pandemic and Southend Airport faced a £21.5 million loss as the number of travellers plummeted to all-time lows.
Holly added: “It’s going to be really positive after a lot of negativity surrounding the airport, with fears that it may close in the future, that finally seems to actually be in the past, the future is secure now.
“To announce six routes in one day is a really big announcement and we are honestly really happy.”
