Terminal extension will create local employment boost

A proposed extension to the brand new terminal at London Southend Airport would result in more than 300 hundred additional new jobs being created.

The airport’s planning proposal has just been submitted to Rochford Council, whose members will make a decision over whether to grant permission in the next few months.

Phase One of the new terminal is now complete and becomes operational on 28 February 2012. The new light and airy, fly-through terminal building is less than 100 paces from the new railway station and is all about simplicity, speed and service. Passengers flying out from the airport will wait for a maximum of four-minutes for security, whilst those arriving with just hand luggage can expect to travel from plane to train within 15 minutes of leaving the aircraft.

This proposed Phase Two of the new terminal is to ensure these promised high standards of service are not compromised as passenger numbers grow towards 2 million per year in the future.

The planned extension would see the terminal building becoming 90 metres longer. The number of check in desks / baggage drop off points will increase, as will the amount of security screening channels. The Departure Lounge will grow in size to enhance the experience for passengers relaxing and awaiting boarding after security. A larger Arrivals area will have enhanced baggage reclaim facilities and a larger immigration area. Retail and catering facilities will be expanded throughout the terminal in order to provide a much wider range of shops and services available to passengers.

The 300 new jobs arising from the increase in Southend based aircraft will result in a variety of additional operational and service roles such as passenger service, security, retail, catering, baggage handling, engineering and maintenance, plus airline crew from London Southend based airline operations.

London Southend Airport Managing Director Alastair Welch says “This extension will ensure that we are able to maintain the high levels of customer service we intend to be the hallmark of London Southend Airport as our passenger numbers grow. No changes are proposed – or needed – to the binding legal agreement already made with Rochford, Southend and Essex County Council which sets out the comprehensive controls on the way the airport operates, including noise controls, limits on number and type of operations and night flights and promotion of sustainable transport – all of which were already designed to cater for 2 million passengers a year.”

He added “This is also more evidence of the role the redeveloped airport can and will play in supporting the regeneration of the wider economy.”

If the extension plan is passed, construction work could get underway later this year.