Sixth London airport takes off

Stansted airport was told today that a new rival at Southend will give it a serious “run for its money”.

The challenge came as the first passengers passed through its new terminal following a £100 million makeover. EasyJet will fly to nine European destinations including Barcelona and Malaga from as little as £24.99.

The airline’s chief executive, Carolyn McCall, claimed it could offer passengers faster and cheaper connections to the capital than its Essex rival.

At the opening of the terminal, she said: “Stansted is always going to have much more capacity but this is a great airport, designed really well, point-to-point, and I think it’s going to give Stansted a real run for its money.”

London Southend can currently take two million flights a year but this could triple, she added.

EasyJet will start with 70 departures a week to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Malaga and Mallorca, and Irish carrier Aer Arann is already operating up to 10 flights a week to Waterford. Stansted-based Ryanair acknowledged the challenge.

Its head of communications Stephen McNamara said Southend was a “credible alternative for some passengers ... Stansted has been uncompetitive for a number of years now because of high BAA charges.”

But he added: “Once Stansted is taken out of BAA’s hands it will grow again and Southend will be one of the first airports to feel the pinch.” The terminal building was opened by Transport Secretary Justine Greening.

It is less than 100 paces from a new station serving Liverpool Street (53 minutes away) and Stratford International (44 minutes), making it the only airport in Britain with a direct link to the Olympic Park.

The airport’s owner, Stobart Group, claimed passengers flying out would wait a maximum of four minutes for security, while those arriving with hand luggage only could hope to travel from “plane to train” within 15 minutes of their aircraft doors opening.

David Norman, mayor of Southend, said the town would be put on the map: “It’s very much London’s sixth airport and it’s going to be a tremendous driver for jobs. It’s the best thing that’s happened in this area for many years.”