Ford books Turkish route from Southend Airport (From Echo)

Ford books Turkish route from Southend Airport

1:00pm Friday 10th February 2012 in Southend By Stephen Hackwell

New route – the Ford charter flight will travel to Turkey

CAR giant Ford has signed a second lucrative contract with Southend Airport to fly its employees to Istanbul in Turkey.

At more than 1,500 miles, the flight will be a new record for the airport and provide aviation enthusiasts with an idea of how far aircraft will be able to travel from the newly expanded 1,900m runway.

The first flight is believed to be scheduled for March 12, although it has not been confirmed.

The route will be operated by a charter airline, meaning there will be no seats on the flights for paying passengers.

However, its distance will demonstrate to commercial airlines that flights from Southend to Turkey, Greece, Scandanavia and north Africa are all within range.

Alastair Welch, the airport’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to see a further Ford dedicated charter service. Now even more Ford employees can enjoy the convenience and simplicity of using their local airport.

“The airport is able to offer services like this due to its runway extension, further proof of the role the redeveloped airport can, and will, play to support the regeneration of the wider economy.”

Ford’s UK headquarters are based in Warley, near Brentwood.

However, its construction plants are spread all over Europe and the company needs regular shuttle services to move workers and managers between its sites.

Last month, the Echo revealed the firm would restart a weekly shuttle service to take employees to its factories in Cologne, Germany, and Craiova, in Romania.

A similar weekly service will now serve its Otosan base in Istanbul, leaving on Mondays and returning on Fridays.