Talks aimed at attracting new airlines to Southend airport are “progressing well,” owner Stobart Group disclosed today.
The company has a target to grow passenger numbers at the Essex airport to more than 2.5 million a year by 2018, delivering earnings [EBITDA] of £8 per passenger.
In a pre-close trading statement ahead of half year results due to be issued on October 27, the firm said like-for-like passenger numbers for the six months to August 31 were “broadly in line” with the same period last year, with on-time performance and load factors continuing to out-perform airline targets.
“As reported in the AGM statement in June, London Southend airport's management team is in advanced talks with a number of low-cost carriers and full service operators, who want to take advantage of the airport's access to London capacity at peak times. These talks are progressing well,” Stobart said.
Chief executive Andrew Tinkler said: “We are pleased with how the discussions with carriers and operators are progressing and look forward to a positive outcome in the coming period.”