EASYJET will start operating from London Southend Airport from April 2012, with the creation of 150 new jobs.

The 10-year agreement between airport owners Stobart Group and the UK’s largest airline will see three A319 aircraft based at the Essex terminal in summer 2012.

There will be 70 easyJet flights per week and passengers will have a choice of around ten different European destinations including Barcelona, Faro and Ibiza.

Tickets will go on sale at the end of July.

The new jobs will be a mixture of cabin crew, pilots and ground staff.

London Southend Airport’s managing director, Alastair Welch says “We are delighted to announce our partnership with EasyJet, servicing a comprehensive variety of routes into Europe and hot on the heels of other significant developments at London Southend.   “As the operator of the newest fleet of any commercial airline in Europe, EasyJet operate a quieter and more environmentally friendly fleet. Our target is to serve two million passengers a year, and with 800,000 easyJet passengers and a further 100,000 Aer Arann and Flybe passengers, we will be meeting almost half that target in year one.”

EasyJet’s Customer and Revenue Director Catherine Lynn added: “We are excited to be opening London Southend as easyJet’s 20th base airport.

This is a unique opportunity to offer a world class customer experience, with passengers able to get from the plane to the train in 15 minutes.

"Through offering easy and affordable travel, we expect the new routes to appeal to customers in Essex and London looking for a convenient new departure point for many top European destinations.

"We also believe that the European city links will also attract a high number of inbound business and leisure passengers next year.”