HOLIDAYMAKERS were treated to a live DJ and hot chocolate tasters as flights to a popular winter destination at Southend Airport have returned.

Budget airline easyJet confirmed earlier this year that it would relaunch the route from the south Essex airport to Geneva, in Switzerland.

The route, which last operated in 2020, relaunched officially on Saturday, but the airport hosted celebrations for the return yesterday.

Passengers were treated to mince pies, mini hot chocolates and "après-ski vibes" with live music from DJ Shannon Ashby.

Spotter Dedicated TV also hosted an exclusive livestream which saw 14,000 viewers tune in on Facebook to watch the plane take off to the Swiss alps.

EasyJet is operating three flights per week to Geneva from Saturday, December 16, with flights departing on Wednesdays and Saturdays and fares starting from £15 one-way. 

A Southend Airport spokesman said: "Our winter schedule - the largest in four years - is now well into snowy action, complemented by winter sun easyJet flights to Alicante, Paris and Amsterdam."

The airport is set to have an even larger winter schedule next year if these flights remain, as the snowy charm of Lapland with Titan Airways will be added in winter 2024.