RESIDENTS and councillors have welcomed EasyJet’s new route to the French Capital from Southend Airport Airline EasyJet yesterday revealed its latest route, which is set to be launched on February 26, next year.

The new route, linking Southend to Paris in under an hour, will operate four times a week throughout the year and brings the number of EasyJet destinations from Southend to 17.

Ron Woodley, leader of Southend Council yesterday welcomed the news as a huge boost for the borough.

He said “I think it’s excellent news and will be a boost for Southend businesses.

It’s brilliant news.

“I hope it will boost French tourists to come and stay in Southend. It will be a great benefit for our B&Bs and hotels.

“We need to sell Southend and our tourism department is doing that.

“We have seven or eight miles of beaches and we have main rail lines into London, which is 55 minutes away.

“There are tennis clubs, yacht clubs and our economy is growing all the time.

“It’s a great time to visit Southend.”

Simon Harris is a French teacher at St Peirre School, in Leigh, which was founded by Monsieur Guy Eugene Felix Bragard and Teresa Amy Barton.

He said the opportunity of direct flights to the French Capital would be very welcome.

Mr Harris, 31, from Hockley, said: “I would definitely welcome this.

“I go out once or twice a year and the school runs French trips each year.

“We usually use Eurostar, but the opportunity to go from Southend Airport would be very interesting for the school.

“Going to France for day trips and getting pupils back before bedtime is a bit of problem, so this would be much quicker.

“We also welcome a number of French exchange students at the school so this will be useful for them.”

Members of Southend French Circle said the new route would be a very welcome addition to the list of destinations from the borough.

June Marriott, treasurer of the circle, said: “If I go to Paris I use Eurostar because it is easier than flying from Gatwick, but I would definitely consider using Southend Airport.

“I’ve flown to other destinations from there and the airport provides a very good service.”

Lisa Howard, travel consultant at Hermes Travel, in London Road, Westcliff, welcomed the new route.

She said: “Most of the time we book customers on Eurostar for Paris trips as its not far away, but this will be even closer.

“I think it is good news and will be very popular.”

 

City to city destination signals new relationship for EasyJet and airport

NEW flights from Southend to Paris are a sign of things to come for the town, an airport boss says.

Welcoming EasyJet’s new route to Charles De Gaulle, from Southend Airport, Glyn Jones, chief executive officer there said the move marked a change of direction in its relationship with the airline.

He said Southend Airport had traditionally launched flights to leisure and holiday destinations, but city-to-city routes were becoming attractive.

Mr Jones said: “It’s really interesting in terms of what Southend can offer.

“It’s not just leisure routes, but city-to-city.

“I have been in the aviation business a long time and not every plan works, but EasyJet is a very strong brand and it’s really encouraging it has made the contribution to the airport.”

Airport owners, the Stobart Group, announced there was a drop of 99,000 EasyJet passenger numbers this year, based on the same period 12 months ago.

However, Mr Jones said he was confident the new route would turn around a recent dip in passenger numbers.

He said: “Passenger numbers do fluctuate, but worrying too much about the short term can be misleading.

“The fact that EasyJet chose a city-to-city route as opposed to leisure to leisure in encouraging and in my view a sign of things to come.”

The airport is also looking at a number of ways it can improve its service and attract new passengers.

Jon Horne, airport managing director said: “We are in discussion with train operating companies bidding for the Greater Anglia Franchise, to be awarded in 2016.

“We have lobbied for earlier and later trains to complement our flight schedules and to bring our rail services more in line with those, which serve the other London airports.

“Better rolling stock will improve the standard of the service offered by the new franchisee and again this is something we have encouraged the train operating companies to consider as part of their bids.”

Attending a recent mayoral fundraiser, Mr Horne also said signs would soon be placed on the M25 to encourage more people to choose