Airport completes first development project
London Southend Airport has officially opened its new state of the art air traffic control tower
Operational since March this year, the control tower marks the
first completed project in a portfolio of developments at London Southend
Airport, including a new
dedicated train station, new terminal building, runway extension and a new
hotel.
Minister for the Thames Gateway, Bob Neill said: “Today London
Southend Airport
has taken another important step in its expansion with the official opening of
its new, state-of-the-art control tower – the newest in the UK. I’ve seen
for myself the excellent work the airport is doing to employ and train local
talent and their plans over the next year will see 500 more jobs created. It’s
great to see how committed Stobart and easyJet are to fulfilling the potential
of the airport and the Thames Gateway.”
He added: “Its wonderful that today I will be able to leave
the airport by train. With its dedicated station running services into London via Stratford for
the first time it’s clear that London
Southend Airport
will be an absolutely essential transport hub for the Olympic Games. And its
potential goes way beyond London 2012: this growing airport will create many
thousands of new jobs across Essex over the
coming years, improve the Thames Gateway’s international connectivity and
deliver economic growth for local people and businesses.”
Airport managing director Alastair Welch, said: “We are very
pleased to welcome the Minister to the airport, to officially open the new
control tower buillding. The contrast with
the previous facility reflects the very significant investment that new owners
Stobart Group have brought since their purchase of the airport in late 2008.
With investment in the new railway station, terminal, runway extension and
hotel, we are proud to be playing a key part in the regeneration of the local
area and the wider Thames Gateway.”
Stobart Group chief executive officer Andrew Tinkler, added:
“Today marks the start of a new era of modern facilities and cutting edge
equipment here at the fast-developing London Southend
Airport. It supports both
our strategy as a Group to develop the airport as a fast and friendly gateway
serving the South East and London,
and also will support the airport as we embark on marked growth in flights and
passenger numbers. Our target is to achieve two million passengers per year,
and the new control tower forms a fundamental part of this strategy.”
