A HOST of new routes have been added to Southend Airport this year which has seen the airport boast its largest winter schedule in four years.

With flights on offer to ten popular winter and summer destinations - compared to three in 2022 - Southend Airport has revealed it is “on track” to beat its 2019 passenger performance.

Prior to the pandemic, which wiped out the travel industry and closed easyJet’s base at the airport, two million people passed through Southend to jet off abroad.

Now, holidaymakers have been treated to the long-awaited return of popular pre-pandemic flights including Alicante, Amsterdam and Paris.

These are all the new routes announced this year:

Amsterdam

As the first new route announced in 2023, Southend Airport celebrated the inaugural easyJet flights to Amsterdam on May 24.

Flights to the Netherlands’ capital operated up to four times a week throughout summer –on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays - and three times this winter - on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Paris

The budget airline later announced a new route from Southend to Paris Charles de Gaulle in May this year, with flights to the French capital launched on October 29.

The service operates up to four times a week, with flights will departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays all year round.

Lapland

Taking off next winter, an exclusive trip from Southend to experience the magic of Lapland was the third new easyJet flight announced in 2023.

This is a one-off opportunity with the winter flight to Lapland departing from Southend Airport on December 22, 2024, at 8am, and returning at 2.30pm on Tuesday, December 24.

It comes as a special package, from £1919 per adult, which includes the two night stay along with a number of activities.

Geneva

easyJet confirmed this summer that it would be relaunching its route from the south Essex Airport to Geneva, Switzerland, which last operated in 2020.

Popular for winter ski holidays as well as a global hub, the route returned this month with flights departing on Wednesdays and Saturdays and fares starting from £22.99.

Bourgas

Sunseekers will have a new destination to jet to from Southend next summer, Balkan Holidays is operating a new charter service to the stunning coastal city of Bourgas, Bulgaria, from June 17.

Flights will run every Monday for three weeks until Monday, September 2, 2024.

Alicante

The most hotly-anticipated destination among them all, holidaymakers' calls were answered when easyJet announced in August this year that flights to Alicante would be relaunching.

Pre-pandemic, easyJet ran flights 10 times a week, with Ryanair additionally running five weekly flights, to the Spanish city from Southend.

Now, tickets are on sale for easyJet flights to Alicante throughout 2024 until October - with tickets starting at just at £19.99.

Grenoble

The final route announcement of the year, Southend Airport shared the news of new easyJet flights to Grenoble this September.

Flights start on Sunday, January 14, 2024, and will operate once a week, every Sunday, to the city in the French Alps.

Now, as bosses say the airport is “in talks with existing and new airlines” for new routes, holidaymakers are hoping for even more routes to be announced in the new year.

Among the most in-demand are Lanzarote, Tenerife, Malta, Italy, Greece, and Barcelona.

Passengers also want domestic flights to return to Southend Airport, including Edinburgh, Newquay, Jersey, Manchester and Liverpool.

Dublin is also one of the most commonly requested routes. A trip to the capital of Ireland is treated as a domestic flight for immigration purposes, as you do not need a passport to enter Ireland if you are a British citizen. However, some airlines might require identification.