PASSENGERS aboard easyJet's first summer flight since the budget airline returned to Southend Airport hailed the 'fantastic experience'.
The airport's inaugural summer flight took off yesterday at about 4.40pm – more than half-an-hour behind schedule – heading to Mallorca.
EasyJet had quit the airport in the summer of 2021 under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic, after nearly a decade of serving dozens of destinations from the seaside town.
Budget airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air soon followed suit, leaving the airport reeling, with no passenger flight operators.
But a new era begun yesterday, as an easyJet plan set off with holidaymakers kicking off a new summer schedule, with four flights a week to Majorca, six to Malaga and two to Faro.
Among the first passengers were Basildon husband and wife Valerie and Michael King.
Mr King said: “Today’s experience was just fantastic – we got a round of applause from the security team as we were the first passengers at presentation - what a welcome back!
“We were so worried about our local airport’s recovery but the minute the flights went on sale we booked. We are just delighted to be flying out of Southend again. We have family members that work for easyJet and family in Mallorca so will be regular users.
“It was great to be back in such an easy to use airport and to have a lounge offer available too – just fabulous. We will be back soon!”
Bosses have hailed easyJet’s return as a “major milestone” in the airport’s post-Covid recovery.
They have revealed hopes to provide more short-haul flights to other popular holiday destinations in the coming years.
An airport spokesman said: “Southend Airport is delighted to welcome back passengers for the first flights from the newly minted City of Southend. People living locally, in London and across the east of England can now get back to quickly and easily travelling to our airport, breezing through one of the UK’s quickest security experiences and relaxing and indulging in our award-winning terminal, before jetting off on easyJet flights to hugely popular summer destinations, Malaga, Palma and Faro.”
“We’d like to thank our truly outstanding team for all their efforts in making sure we’re ready to welcome back passengers and we want to recognise the huge support we have received from our amazing local community throughout an incredibly challenging time brought about by the pandemic."
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