A MAJOR launch event took place at Southend Airport promoting flights to Northern Italy.

The event on Friday launched a promotion between Ryanair and Regione Lombardia promoting Lombardy as a destination - and subsequently the area’s capital Milan.

It was part of the Try Somewhere New in Lombardia campaign - with flights available from Southend Airport.

Glyn Jones CEO of Stobart Aviation, said: “We are excited to host this joint promotion between Ryanair and Regione Lombardia at London Southend Airport.

“The Ryanair service to Italy’s second city, Milan, has already been a great success and we anticipate even more passengers will want to explore this fantastic region of northern Italy.

“We also hope that travellers from Lombardy will enjoy South East England.

“Central London is under an hour from London Southend, thanks to our quick and easy rail links to the UK’s capital city, whilst Southend and Essex have so much to offer.

“Southend was rated London’s top airport by consumer group Which? for the sixth consecutive year in 2019, so passengers are in store for a great customer experience at our award-winning airport.”

Friday’s event featured an Instagram contest, information material and engagement with airport customers - with James Duddridge, MP candidate for Rochford and Southend East.

Echo:

Lara Magoni, regional minister of tourism for the Lombardy region, said: “Lombardy takes off. This is the meaning of the communication campaign developed in collaboration with Ryanair to strengthen the international positioning of the destination, in particular towards the British and English-speaking market in general.

“I’m very proud of this, because it is an innovative, integrated and multi-channel communication project to attract the contemporary traveller which has no precedents at this level. Lombardy Region is easy to reach all year round.

“For this reason we want to lead international travellers, in particular from across the Channel, to discover the artistic, cultural and landscape beauties of our territory, taste food and wine specialties, explore the cities of art and immerse themselves in the fairy-tale atmospheres of our villages.”

Visit https://southendairport.com/ for tickets.