Airport News

London Southend Airport will begin work on an extension to its passenger terminal in early November, providing improved services and creating 300 additional local jobs.

The construction project at the airport has been split into three phases, with Phase 1 – a light and airy fly-through terminal – becoming operational on 28 February 2012. This second phase of the work will extend the terminal by 90m to allow the airport to accommodate growing passenger numbers.

Phase 2 of the £10 million project will also include additional check-in desks and baggage drop-off points as well as an enlarged security screening area.

The Departure Lounge will grow in size to enhance the experience for passengers relaxing and awaiting boarding after security, and a larger Arrivals area will have enhanced baggage reclaim facilities and a larger immigration area. Retail and catering facilities will be expanded throughout the terminal in order to provide a much wider range of shops and services available to passengers.

London Southend Airport managing director Alastair Welch said, “Our aim is to ensure that we deliver a very special level of customer service in Southend and this extension will allow us to ensure we can continue to deliver those high standards as the airport grows. This is also further evidence of the role the redeveloped airport is playing in supporting the regeneration of the wider Essex economy.”

Nick Bache, operations director at Kier Construction who has been appointed key contractor for the work, added, “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this significant contract by London Southend Airport. An important project for the Essex region, the terminal extension will provide some fantastic improvements for passengers and will enable us to utilise our extensive airport experience. We can’t wait to get started.”

The new arrivals facility will be completed by the end of May 2013 and the entire extension will be finished just before Christmas 2013.