Details of the new deal were revealed on Tuesday (17 January) and will see easyJet launch an up to four-times-weekly Amsterdam service, starting 24 May. Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays during the summer season.
Amsterdam becomes easyJet’s fourth destination at Southend, joining Malaga, Majorca and Faro. It will also operate up to an additional four flights a week to Faro this summer.
With the addition of Amsterdam and the extension of its Faro route, easyJet will operate up to 18 weekly departures from Southend this summer, an increase of 30% compared with summer 2022.
EasyJet shut its base at Southend during the pandemic, along with three others, but announced in December 2021 it would return for summer 2022 to serve a range of summer sun destinations, tacking on Faro shortly before the season got under way.
Lewis Girdwood, Esken’s executive director – aviation, said the agreement would allow easyJet to develop its network and capacity at Southend airport over the coming years, explaining the addition of Amsterdam was another step towards rebuilding the airport’s capacity.
"London Southend airport has proven routes, cost-effective operations, and an attractive and growing catchment area," said Girdwood. "Its location to the east of London means passengers can be off the aircraft and at the station in under 10 minutes and travel by train to Liverpool Street station, in the heart of London, in 52 minutes."
