EasyJet has launched a new hub at Southend airport, heralding the creation of 140 new roles for pilots and cabin crew alike. The budget airline revealed that stationing three A320neo aircraft at the Essex airport is expected to create around 1,200 jobs.

This summer will see an uptick in activity from the carrier at the airport, with 122 weekly flights scheduled, more than double the previous year's figure and passengers will be able to jet off to a wide array of European and North African leisure destinations. Travel options are set to expand significantly. From October, holidaymakers can start booking flights to sought-after spots, including Barcelona, Lanzarote and Salzburg.

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, easyJet ceased operations at Southend airport in September 2020 but made its return in May 2022. The resumed services have not included any based planes until now.

With expectations of record-breaking demand for this summer season, easyJet and its package tour sector, easyJet Holidays, are gearing up for a monumental period.

Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet Holidays, said: "With flights and thousands of package holidays now available to 20 destinations from London Southend, this will not only enable us to serve many more customers, providing value and more choice but also supports critical connectivity and jobs for the UK, as we get set for our biggest ever summer."

The European provider opened another base at Birmingham International Airport last March, with CEO Johan Lundgren crediting its status as the biggest airline in the UK to "our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares".

John Upton, CEO of Southend Airport, added: "We are thrilled to welcome an easyJet base to Southend, supporting and creating hundrds of jobs locally as well as convenient, new and returning connections to many popular leisure and city destinations.

"This move is indicative of the demand from people in the east of London, Essex and the wider East Anglia region who now have greater opportunities to choose to travel through our well-connected, quick and easy airport."