SOUTHEND Airport’s new £10million terminal will need to treble in size to hit passenger targets.

The Echo can reveal airport bosses hope to submit a planning application within the next six months for proposals to dramatically expand the building, which has not even opened yet.

They hope to have the extension in place by 2014 to help the airport cater for two million passengers a year, while keeping queues to a minimum.

Alastair Welch, the airport’s managing director, said: “When we applied for the runway extension, the environmental assessment took into account an extension to the new passenger terminal and we have designed the new terminal with extension in mind.

“To ensure the high standards of service we wish to offer, it is likely we would wish to bring an extension into use by 2014 and an application for this is likely to be forthcoming within the next six months.”

Work on the two-storey terminal started in January this year and is on track to be completed by February.

The building has three departure gates and five aircraft stands on the concrete apron outside.

However, bosses have promised passengers will wait no longer than four minutes when going through security.

The current 60m-long terminal has only been designed to cope with about 700,000 people a year, and much of that capacity will be swallowed up by the demands of easyJet when the budget airline begins flying from the airport in April.

To hit the two million passengers a year target and keep within the four-minute limit, bosses plan to add to the building’s northern end.

The extension is expected to mirror the current development.

It will include new departure gate, aircraft stands and check-in desks, although Mr Welch said it was too soon to speculate on the exact layout.

However, designers are believed to have taken into account the need for expansion when designing the new terminal.

Mr Welch said: “It is too soon to talk about details of internal layout, or size, although the aim has always been to have the terminal and station in balance.

“We are seeking to ensure the very best levels of service.”

The move will have to be rubber-stamped by Southend Council, but the authority has already indicated it will back the plan in its joint area action plan.

The report says: “Applications for planning permission for the expansion of terminal facilities will be welcomed.”