London Southend Airport hits passenger record as 2025 becomes busiest in six years
London Southend Airport is flying in the fast lane with a total of 720,000 passengers passing through its terminal in 2025, making it the airport’s busiest year since 2019.
And with a whopping 150% annual growth versus figures in 2024, London Southend has once again confirmed its status as the UK’s fastest-growing airport.
It’s clear that passengers in Essex, London and East Anglia knew where they wanted to go. The airport’s top five routes in 2025 were Palma, Malaga, Amsterdam, Alicante and Paris, accounting for 345,000 passengers across more than 2,300 flights.
From beach escapes to European city breaks, these firm favourites proved that easy access, great destinations and a friendly airport experience continue to win over travellers.
In welcoming these milestone results, CEO Jude Winstanley said: “The last 12 months were always going to be important in terms of the airport’s turnaround and establishing ourselves as London’s challenger airport. I have been delighted to already see a bustling terminal this year – with more than 50,000 passengers passing through the airport each month since the easyJet base opened in April. Finishing 2025 as the UK’s fastest-growing airport is marvellous and we fully expect 2026 to be another busy year for us.”
The momentum isn’t slowing down. With new routes to Barcelona, Berlin, Ibiza, Jersey and Munich already on sale for summer 2026, London Southend will offer 26 routes over the next 12 months, giving passengers even greater choice for their next getaway.
Behind the headline figures, 2025 delivered strong performance across the board:
- Over 5,000 commercial movements handled during the year;
- August crowned the busiest month, with nearly 90,000 passengers;
- Sundays emerged as the busiest day of the week;
- The average number of seats per flight stood at 177.
Spain proved to be the standout destination market, with almost 345,000 passengers travelling from London Southend to Spanish hotspots including Almeria, Tenerife and Las Palmas.
About London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport is the UK’s fastest-growing airport, with a 133% increase in flights compared to summer 2024. Our dedicated on-site train station ensures seamless connectivity, with a 10-minute train-to-gate time and direct services from Stratford, London in 43 minutes and London Liverpool Street in just 52 minutes. Renowned for sensational customer experience, we manage all key operations in-house, delivering an easy, speedy, friendly journey from arrival to departure. easyJet passengers rank us among the UK’s top airports for satisfaction and our own private London Southend Jet Centre is the fastest-growing in the country.