Photo: London Southend
Traffic at London Southend has increased by over 100 per cent in 2025.
According to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), London Southend’s passenger traffic has doubled in just four months with an impressive 106 per cent increase between January and April this year.
The UK-wide average is 3.2 per cent growth with London’s six primary hubs – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and City – averaging 1.7 per cent growth in 2025 compared to 2024.
Southend’s nearest rival, business and general aviation hub London Biggin Hill saw a 67 per cent rise in the first four months of 2025, while Londonderry in Northern Ireland managed 56 per cent in the same period.
Photo: Jude Winstanley, CEO London Southend
A year of growth at London Southend
Jude Winstanley who was appointed CEO of London Southend last year, said: “The UK CAA figures confirm what I said at the start of June – we expect 2025 to be a year of industry-leading growth at London Southend. Even more impressive? We’re delivering these incredible results while keeping our reputation as London’s easy, speedy, friendly airport completely intact.”
The airport has seen its passenger traffic benefit from a serious boost after the opening of easyJet’s base in April this year. The low-fare carrier currently has three aircraft based at Southend serving popular holiday destinations including the Canary islands, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain and Italy.
Regional carrier, Eastern Airways, also flies to and from Southend to Newquay in Cornwall.
Speaking to Regional Gateway at the airport’s networking day earlier in June, Winstanley revealed the airport is hoping to hit the one million passenger mark this year.
The airport is launching new routes at the end of October to Berlin and Grenoble with easyJet. The LCC will also add Barcelona, Lanzarote and Salzburg to its winter network.
Keep an eye out for the September issue of Regional Gateway to catch our exclusive interview with Jude Winstanley.
