Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Southend Airport celebrates start of new routes

Aerospace

Southend Airport celebrates start of new routes

London Southend Airport today celebrated the start of new routes to Dublin, Manchester and Glasgow, with those arriving and departing on the very first flights to each destination being greeted - or sent off - with a water arch salute from the Southend Airport Fire Service.

Legendary Manchester band Oasis, Glasgow’s iconic SEC Armadillo and Dublin Bay (complete with cliffs, beach and waves) are just some of the highlights of

Also, a monumental cake was shared with passengers, featuring Manchester band Oasis, Glasgow’s iconic SEC Armadillo and Dublin Bay (complete with cliffs, beach and waves), as travellers and staff gathered to toast the beginning of flights to Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin, which are all operated through Stobart Air’s franchise partnership with Flybe.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Flights to the Irish capital will operate up to three times daily. The route to the UK’s 2013 ‘Capital of Culture’ – Manchester – will also fly up to three times daily and to Scotland’s largest city – Glasgow – up to twice daily Sunday-Friday.

The enormous, three-tiered cake was designed to incorporate iconic locations, characters and themes from all three destinations – so the various layers included representations of the Glasgow Tower, Clyde Arch, Scottish flag, Lancaster Rose, a Manchester United shirt, Leprechauns, shamrocks and much more, including a turboprop aircraft. The confectionary creation, which has a salted caramel and chocolate base, with Victoria Sponge upper layers, was made by Bourgee Bites – Bar – Luxe Lounge and took two chefs a week to create.

It was also an opportunity to mark the start of new easyJet route to Mediterranean favourite Malta, which got underway on Sunday.

Glyn Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Stobart Aviation, owners of London Southend Airport said: “We have plenty of reasons to celebrate today, as these new routes mark yet another important development for us in an exciting year where we continue to grow and expand in order to be the very best airport possible for our customers.

Advertisement
ODU RT

"In the last 12 months we’ve opened a new World Duty Free, Bourgee and other shops, offering even more variety for our guests. We’ve added a number of new routes – with more still to come – and provided a time and cost-effective way for our passengers to connect to North America and Canada. Plus, we’ve launched a Private Jet Centre and also submitted plans to develop the terminal building.

“London Southend Airport is going from strength to strength and delivering on its promise of being a better way to travel - more comfort, faster access, fewer queues and a friendlier experience than larger airports in the South East.”

 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Regional & City Airports reports strong passenger growth

Aerospace

Regional & City Airports reports strong passenger growth

28 April 2026

Regional & City Airports (RCA) has reported a strong full-year performance across its UK portfolio, with total passenger numbers rising by 23% year-on-year to more than 2.43 million in the 12 months to 31st March 2026.

World’s first pilot facility converts non-recyclable waste plastic to SAF

Aerospace

World’s first pilot facility converts non-recyclable waste plastic to SAF

28 April 2026

A major breakthrough in tackling both waste plastic and aviation emissions has been marked with the opening of the world’s first waste plastics to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pilot facility.

Smiths Detection’s SDX 10080 SCT achieves ECAC EDS Standard 3.1

Aerospace Security

Smiths Detection’s SDX 10080 SCT achieves ECAC EDS Standard 3.1

28 April 2026

Smiths Detection today announced that its SDX 10080 SCT has received ECAC EDS Standard 3.1 approval for hold baggage and air cargo screening - one of the most rigorous aviation security certifications, recognised across 44 ECAC member states spanning Europe and beyond.

Glasgow Airport hosts emergency training exercise

Aerospace Security

Glasgow Airport hosts emergency training exercise

28 April 2026

Glasgow Airport successfully hosted a multiagency emergency training exercise on Thursday 23rd April, carried out between 7.30pm and 11.30pm, as part of its ongoing commitment to safety, resilience and emergency preparedness.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Aurrigo appoints Mark Gower as Director of Global Airport Operations

Aerospace

Aurrigo appoints Mark Gower as Director of Global Airport Operations

28 April 2026

Aurrigo International, provider of autonomy software, fully autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics platforms, has made the high-profile appointment of Mark Gower in the newly created (non-board) role of Director of Global Airport Operations.

March sees busiest day for UK flights this year

Aerospace

March sees busiest day for UK flights this year

28 April 2026

March had the busiest day of the year so far, for flights taking off from, landing into and flying through UK airspace.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner