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Sixth London Airport

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London will get its sixth major international airport when easyJet start flying from Southend before the Olympics



The budget carrier revealed today that they will launch around 70 planes a week from the Essex airport from April next year.

Initially around one million people will fly from the airport each year - but it is expected to double making it as busy as City Airport.

Currently private jets and charter flights take off from the airfield - although there are a few commercial flights to Ireland.

However, analysts have hailed the growth potential - and predict that it could establish itself as an alternative to Gatwick and Stansted.

Catherine Lynn, the airline’s customer and revenue director, said: 'In summer 2012 we’re expecting to see huge demand from passengers right around Europe to come to London.

'We expect easyJet to fly more people into London next summer than any other airline, and Southend will be the closest large airport to the Olympics. We’re going to maintain our regular services — this is an opportunity to increase our capacity.'

Three new routes have already been confirmed — Barcelona, Faro and Ibiza — but other destinations expected to be served from Southend include Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam, Berlin, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.

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