A NEW route from Southend has launched as the airport aims to bounce back from Covid-19 and recover from easyJet’s exit.

The airport launched direct flights to Bergen, in Norway, with airline Widerøe yesterday, as the first flight departed at 10.45am.

The flights will come as a welcome boost, with the final easyJet flight leaving the airport yesterday.

It is believed that 161 jobs have been lost as the budget airline withdraws from Southend Airport - stopping flights and closing its base.

Glyn Jones, chief executive of Stobart Aviation - parent company of Southend Airport said: “At a difficult time for aviation the new route demonstrates confidence in the airport, and the interest people have to returning to fly to locations that continue to have low coronavirus incident rates.”

The destination has plenty to offer visitors and some of the top attractions include the Grieg Museum - famous as the former home of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

As well as Mount Ulriken - Bergen’s tallest mountain with multiple trails, and the colourful Bergen Market Square with its 700-year old Fish Market called Torget.

After the one hour 50-minute flight to Bergen, flyers then have the option of a further eight connections across Norway.

Flights will leave Southend on Mondays and Fridays, with 14 passengers aboard yesterday’s inaugural flight.

Christian Skaug, commercial director Widerøe, “We are strengthening our focus on Bergen as a hub for traffic throughout the country.

“With this new route we continue to build on the network Widerøe has developed in and around Bergen and Western Norway in recent years. We start cautiously, but if we see that the offer is well received, we will consider adding more weekly departures.”

Unite the Union and easyJet staff have held protests at Southend Airport .