easyJet has today announced it will add a fourth based aircraft at London Southend Airport, further expanding its presence at the airport and supporting continued growth and jobs.
Alongside the additional aircraft, easyJet has announced a new route from London Southend to Rhodes, providing customers across Essex and the wider region with even more choice for their summer holidays.
The new service to the popular Greek island will commence on 27 April and operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, providing convenient options for customers looking for a summer getaway.
easyJet has now announced that it will be adding another Airbus A320neo to its London Southend fleet from next summer, meaning the airline will now base four aircraft in London Southend demonstrating the airline’s continuing commitment to its customers in the Essex region.
The expansion will also support the local economy, with each UK-based aircraft supporting around 400 direct and indirect jobs and £27 million UK gross value added (GVA).
Rhodes is one of Greece’s best-loved holiday destinations, combining beautiful beaches and warm Mediterranean weather with centuries of history and culture. Visitors can explore the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, discover picturesque villages and enjoy the island’s renowned coastline, restaurants and traditional Greek hospitality.
The addition of a fourth based aircraft further demonstrates easyJet’s commitment to London Southend and will enable the airline to continue growing its network from the airport, providing customers with an even greater choice of affordable flights and package holidays.
Jude Winstanley, CEO of London Southend Airport, said:
“We’re delighted to see easyJet make this further commitment to London Southend Airport. Having another aircraft based here from next summer is a real vote of confidence in the airport, and in the huge potential of the London Southend market.
“It means more choice for passengers across East London, Essex and East Anglia, and more opportunities for people to enjoy the easy, speedy and friendly airport on their
doorstep.
“We’ve listened to what our customers and local travel agents have been telling us, and Greece was one of the obvious gaps in our network. We’re really pleased to have filled
that gap, and we’re excited to see what other new destinations the fourth based A320neo will bring for Summer 2027.
“This is a significant moment for the airport. We expect passenger numbers to pass the one million mark in 2027, while our continued growth will also create more local jobs. “We expect to employ more than 400 people directly next year, so this latest investment from easyJet is not just good news for passengers — it’s great news for South Essex too.”
Kevin Doyle, easyJet UK Country Manager, said:
“We’re delighted to be announcing further growth at London Southend with the addition of a fourth based aircraft, providing economic benefits to the region and more choice for customers alongside our new route to Rhodes for flights and holidays.”
“Since opening our base at the airport we’ve continued to expand the choice we offer customers across Essex and the wider region, and this additional aircraft will enable us to
build on that growth by offering even more fantastic destinations.
“Rhodes is a firm favourite for summer holidays, thanks to its fantastic beaches, history and warm Mediterranean climate, so we’re confident the new route will prove popular
with customers looking for great-value flights and holidays from London Southend.”
