SOUTHEND Airport received a major boost as it was revealed Easyjet carried nearly 40,000 more passengers from the airport than expected in the last year.

Although profits for the airline dipped, optimism is high, especially as more routes from Southend are in the pipeline.

The company yesterday revealed end-of-year results showing it had taken a £101million hit from the weak pound.

Despite this the airline confirmed it received a boost from the demise of rivals and recent woes at Ryanair and even hinted at new European routes from Southend.

In an exclusive interview with the Echo, Sophie Dekkers, Easyjet’s director of UK market, said: “It was a difficult start to the year but better than expected given the extenuating circumstances and challenges that we have come through.

“A lot of the challenges we’ve faced in the last 12 months has consolidated our capacity in Europe. A lot of airlines have shifted away from Egypt and Turkey in favour of routes like Spain and Portugal.

“Everyone is competing to get passengers. We are looking at alternative routes within those countries like Grenada and Seville and to places like Croatia.”

Ms Dekkers said the airline would be looking at such route expansion across the country, including at Southend, where the company is set to bring in a larger aircraft for its flights to Malta.

She added: “Southend Airport, from my experience, can’t be beaten and it is one I use quite a lot for that reason. Getting from the car to the plane within minutes couldn’t be better and when people try it they are always converted. I drive to Southend Airport from Cambridge and though it might be a bit further to drive, it’s so much quicker and much more efficient.”

Easyjet posted headline pre-tax profits of £408million, which is down from £494 million the previous year.