UP to 90 airport staff are facing losing their jobs as redundancy consultations are now underway.

The baggage handlers employed by Stobart Aviation at Southend Airport are at risk of being axed, with bosses confirming consultations have begun.

It’s the latest blow to the airport after new flights were cancelled weeks after being launched following the departure of budget airline Easyjet.

Mark Flewitt, Tory councillor for St Laurence Ward, said: “I am very sad to hear but not surprised unfortunately. The trouble is the industry is speeding things like this up but the reality is 90 people could loose their jobs.

“The airport needs to be telling the truth and taking more ownership of the decisions. It’s shocking for the community as unemployment figures are going up and the chances of the airport being back to normal soon are very slim.

“This is heartbreaking for the families who could loose their jobs and have no idea where they will be getting another job.

“It feels like the airport is giving false hope especially with launching the new flights to Norway and then cancelling them again.”

Fellow ward and Tory councillor David McGlone said: “It seems to be never ending, I do not know where the airport stands now. This is another blow but I do hope and believe the airport can recover.”

Earlier this month it was announced the new route to Bergen, in Norway, with airline Wideroe has now been paused – amid claims of a lack of interest.

It was launched on August 31 – with the final Easyjet flight leaving the airport on the same day, after the firm announced in July it was closing bases at Southend and Stansted Airports, with Easyjet and the Unite union holding protests.

A spokesman for Stobart Aviation said: “We can confirm consultation into redundancy has been launched but we cannot comment further.”