The airline’s passengers will be welcomed with entertainment from the 10-piece Essex Caledonian Pipe Band and a refreshing glass of Irn Bru (or champagne!) plus a stick of Edinburgh Rock ahead of the first flight.

easyJet’s new direct flights to the Scottish capital from London’s newest airport will enable travellers from the region to reach Edinburgh in just 75 minutes, six days a week, all year round with London Southend becoming easyJet’s fourth London airport offering flights to Edinburgh – more than any other airline. With fares available from just £21.49* the new service will provide every opportunity for the 85,000 passengers expected to use the service each year, to experience the city’s world famous culture, history, architecture and sense of fun.

Hugh Aitken, easyJet’s UK Commercial Manager said:

""We’re delighted to be launching this new easyJet service from London Southend to Edinburgh. We’re actively expanding our destinations from the airport and delivering on our promise to provide great value for money, choice and flexibility with our friendly service.

""Our direct flight to Edinburgh will enable passengers from the region to explore the city or extend their visit to further areas of Scotland easily and affordably whether travelling for leisure or work. We’re sure the new service will be a big hit.""

London Southend Airport Managing Director Alastair Welch said:

""Our customer research told us Edinburgh was the most popular and widely requested UK destination locally, so it therefore it made perfect sense for us to respond to that and give passengers what they want. It also means that people in Essex and London no longer have to face a day long drive or tortuous train journey to get to Scotland.""

NOTES TO EDITORS

*Per person one way including fees and charges based on two people travelling on the same booking.

About easyJet:


easyJet operates Europe's No. 1 air transport network with a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports.

easyJet flies over 200 aircraft on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

About London Southend Airport


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 53 minutes into the heart of the City), an Air Traffic Control Tower, terminal building, runway extension and radar. There is also a 4-star Holiday Inn within walking distance of the terminal.

Work on a major extension to the passenger terminal is currently underway; with the first phase – a new Arrivals area - due to open in June 2013, when a 4th easyJet aircraft arrives to be based in Southend. The terminal building is becoming 90 metres longer and will open in phases throughout 2013. London Southend Airport has departures each week to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Jersey, Malaga, Mallorca and Venice from London Southend Airport with easyJet – further flights to Berlin, Krakow and Newquay start in June 2013. More at www.southendairport.com

About Essex Caledonian Pibe Band


The Essex Caledonian Pipe Band was formed after the amalgamation of the Harwich, Brentwood and Red Hackle Pipe Bands, and is now based in Chelmsford. They are one of only a few competition standard pipe bands in the south east, regularly playing in Scotland and Belgium. More about them here - www.essexcaledonian.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS & IMAGES

Contact: 
For London Southend Airport Tracy Jones at Brera PR & Marketing – 01702 216658 / 07887 514984 / tracy@brera-london.com / www.brera-london.com



For easyJet Dagmar Dua on dagmar.dua.@easyJet.com / 01582 525252