London Southend Airport planning to restart direct flights to Jersey after dropping the route in 2020. The airport previously operated up to 12 weekly flights
John Upton, CEO, Southend Airport said: “The airport is in detailed discussions with several airlines on potential routes, including a return to Jersey Airport (JER). This would help it recoup the more than 77,500 passengers who previously flew from the east London area to Jersey and presently lack service.”
Nigel Mayes, Business Development Director, Southend Airport said: “There is a clear, unclaimed opportunity in the east London market for an additional service to Jersey. London’s aviation capacity is reaching a cliff edge, but London Southend has immediately available capacity and real estate, as well as the lowest operating costs. Reclaiming this well-known, successful route between London Southend and the Channel Islands is a clear pathway to profitable growth for airlines."
In 2019, over 1.2 million passengers flew from London to Jersey, with over 12% of these travelers departing from east London airports, Stansted, London City and Southend Airport, with Southend Airport handling 60,000 of these passengers across 12 weekly easyJet flights.
Southend Airport was one of the hardest-hit UK airports over the pandemic, handling just 4.4% of its pre-COVID capacity in 2022 following easyJet's decision to drop the airport operations. With easyJet’s return to airport this summer with four dedicated routes and multi-year partnership, the airport anticipates a busy summer ahead.