Welcome to the fourth issue of the London Southend Airport Community Newsletter
Happy new year, everyone. I’m delighted to be able to talk to you about all the exciting news that’s coming up for London Southend Airport in 2024 and beyond. But before I do that, let’s have a look back at 2023 and the great progress we’ve made along our pathway to recovery. Click here for my new year message.
We’ll catch up again soon.
John Upton
CEO London Southend Airport.
Airline & Route Development
Routes Europe 2023
With the winter season in full swing, London Southend is offering its biggest winter programme of routes since 2019 with airline partner, easyJet. The attractive destinations, which include Alicante, Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Geneva and Grenoble, offer passengers a great mix of winter sunshine, city breaks and ski holidays.
Community news
Charity Partnership with South East and Central Essex Mind
Football fundraiser
London Southend Airport colleagues played local charity football team Run Free FC at Garon Park, Southend in October 2023. The event raised more than £1,100 for our charity partner and saw over 80 volunteering hours logged by the LSA team. A fantastic day with an important message at its core. We look forward to hosting a similar event in May 2024; more information at the end of this email.
Mental Elf 2023
In December, members of the airport team, along with CEO John Upton (pictured above), braved the cold weather to complete a 5K run, jog and/or walk through Belfairs Woods to raise awareness and funds for our charity partner, SECE Mind. The fundraising total is currently standing at an amazing £11,144 — which includes a £5,000 match funding donation from London Southend Airport. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will continue to help aid SECE Mind in their support services for mental health care within our local community. Visit their website for more information and details on the services they offer.
Red Arrows, Typhoon and BBMF
The airport welcomed the Red Arrows, Typhoon and Lancaster over the weekend August 18-20, 2023 whilst they were performing at Eastbourne Airshow. The aircraft proved very popular with local visitors who lined the airfield perimeter to watch them take-off and land. Aviation live-streamer SDTV hosted a live video from the ATC Control Tower and interviewed Red Arrows Synchro leader Red 6, James Turner with questions from the public.
Recruitment Day
With more than 300 attendees, hundreds of conversations and a brilliant influx of applications across departments, our October 2023 Recruitment Day in October was a flying success ahead of our summer 2024 operation. If you weren’t able to attend, don’t despair. We look forward to holding similar events in future and welcoming new faces to the airport team.
Armistice
Safety and Compliance manager Darren Peacock, who served as an RAF Engineer for more than 20 years, dusted off his beret in November 2023 to march alongside war veterans at the Southend Remembrance Service Parade. He lay a wreath on behalf of the airport at the Southend Cenotaph. Thank you, Darren.
Operation Christmas Child: Shoebox Appeal
Last Christmas, we supported the Samaritans Purse charity and their Operation Christmas Child ‘Shoebox Appeal’. The airport was registered as a drop-off location for Christmas shoeboxes, which meant staff and the local community were able to package up and donate gifts for children in low income/war-ridden countries. We beat our shoebox total from 2022 and collected a total of 56.
London Southend Airport x Hays Travel Southend Travel Show
Travel agents from Hays Travel Southend, easyJet holidays, Balkan Holidays, Disney and more stood side-by-side at the Holiday Inn Southend at our brand-new Travel Show this January. Members of the public attended to purchase discounted holiday tickets to a variety of our destinations. The Mayor of Southend was a fantastic guest, whilst airport tours and music from X Factor finalist Matt Linnen topped off the day in style.
Free Flights Friday
You’re a winner! …Or at least, Susan is. She is one of four winners from our Free Flights Friday campaign, in partnership with Radio Essex, and jetted off to Paris in early December.
We gave away four pairs tickets to Paris and/or Alicante – with free parking, Fast Track and SKYLIFE Lounge access included – to four lucky Radio Essex listeners.
Make sure you’re tuning in to Radio Essex for more destination announcements and exclusive holiday giveaways throughout 2024.
Passenger feedback
Our latest Civil Aviation Authority passenger survey saw highs of 90% across the board.
90% of departing passengers rated LSA at excellent for the quality of assistance provided from arrival to the airport to boarding the aircraft.
90% of departing passengers rated LSA excellent for the general helpfulness and curtesy of airport staff in meeting assistance needs.
90% of arriving passengers rated LSA excellent for the quality of assistance provided from the arrival gate, through immigration and baggage collection, and out of the airport building.
90% of arriving passengers rated LSA excellent for the general helpfulness and curtesy of airport staff in meeting assistance needs.
Community Noise Forum (LSACNF)
A new independent Chair was appointed in June 2023. Mick Thwaites has spent over 40 years working and living in the Southend-on-Sea area. Before retiring in 2009, he spent 34 years working for City of London Police, also serving Metropolitan (secondment) and Essex Constabularies, reaching the rank of Temporary Assistant Chief Constable. In 2008, Mick received the Liam Brigginshaw award for outstanding contribution to Policing in Essex. Now, he is appealing for new members to join the LSACNF. Lean more here.
Events 2024
Vulcan Restoration Trust
The Vulcan Restoration Trust (VRT) Music & Beer Festival Event, held on August 4 – 5, 2023 was a roaring success and attended by almost 1,000 people. It was great to see so many traders, performers, aviation fans and members of the local community taking part. We’re hopeful that this will be a very popular annual event! Click here for a full list of VRT events for the coming year.
Charity Football Tournament (May)
Following the success of our London Southend Airport football fundraiser in October 2023, we are delighted to be engaging in conversations with Southend United FC for a larger charity football tournament to take place this May. More information will be shared soon.
Balkan Holidays to Bulgaria
Flights to Bourgas, Bulgaria with Balkan Holidays commence on Monday, June 17 and run every Monday for 13 weeks until September 2024. Sun-seekers can book a beach break (flights, hotel and airport transfers) online now, click here.
Vacancies
Are you looking to start a career in aviation? Or interested in learning a new skill with the team at London Southend Airport? Then keep reading.
As a major employer for Southend City and the surrounding area, we’re keen to develop a dynamic, bustling and thriving working environment and want your involvement. Airport employee will be right here alongside us as we continue to grow and develop.
London Southend Airport employs 80% of its workforce locally (i.e. SS postcode). To ensure a high percentage of jobs are accessible to local people, the airport actively looks to offer a significant amount of development and entry level as well as graduate opportunities where possible.
Click here to review our latest vacancies and apply online.
London Southend Airport is not offering work experience placements at this time.
Stay connected
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