New London airport announced
Thursday, 2 August 2012 10:24 AM
London Southend is now classed as an offical London airport
Move over Heathrow - there's a new London airport in town.
London Southend Airport is now an official London airport, after it was included by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) within its classification of the Metropolitan Area of London.
This means whenever anyone who wants to fly to London will automatically be offered Southend as an option alongside the five other recognised London passenger airports - Gatwick, Heathrow, City, Stansted and Luton.
Whilst the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had always classed the Essex airport as ‘London,’ historically IATA has not.
Alastair Welch, the Airport Managing Director, said: “We look forward to even more people discovering our new light and airy terminal building less than 100 paces from our brand new railway station with up to 8 trains per hour into the heart of London.
"Passengers flying out from London Southend will wait for a maximum of four-minutes for security, whilst those arriving with just hand luggage can expect to travel from plane to train within 15 minutes of their aircraft doors opening (30minutes if collecting luggage).
"London Southend Airport is all about simplicity, speed and service – and even more people will get the option to experience it now.”
Over £100 million has been invested in London Southend Airport by owners Stobart Group since it was acquired in 2008. New facilities include a train station on the London Liverpool Street (just 44 minutes to the Olympic Park at Stratford or 53 minutes into the heart of the City), an Air Traffic Control Tower, terminal building, runway extension and radar.
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