SOUTHEND Airport bosses are toasting more success after it was named the best in Britain for the third time running.

The airport was handed the number one spot on the annual Which? airport passenger survey with a 86 per cent satisfaction score from customers – 1 percentage point up on last year.

Southend Airport was also awarded the top five-star rating in four of the seven categories assessed by Which? – the consumers’ champion.

The survey asked 11,226 Which? members to complete an online survey about their experiences of flying from a UK airport in the past year, with categories including queues at check-in, bag drop and airport security, baggage reclaim, seating, food outlets and passport control.

Stobart Aviation chief executive Glyn Jones said: “To be named ‘Best Airport in Britain’ for the third year running is wonderful news and once again testament to all the hard work that the team here at London Southend has put in.

“Our unique ‘Simply Easier’ promises to passengers that include short walking distances, superb customer service, a lack of queues compared to other London Airports, our own rail station and car parks right next to the terminal, with fast and frequent train services to the heart of London every 20 minutes are all key factors in our success over the last three years and why more and more passengers are repeatedly choosing London Southend Airport over all the others.”

Other London airports were not so lucky, however, with Stansted and Luton tied at 40 per cent for the title of Britain’s Worst Airports – being marked down for queues, overcrowding and a lack of seating.

Customer scores are based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the airport to a friend.

The Stobart Group has spent more than £120million on Southend Airport since buying it in 2008, adding a rail station outside the terminal on the Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street line, an air traffic control tower, radar, terminal building, runway extension and a four-star Holiday Inn.

The airport offers flights to 19 European destinations with EasyJet, Flybe, SkyWork Airlines and Adria Airways.

EasyJet flights to Lanzarote begin in November, Lyon in December and Paris in February next year.