easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, today started its new route from London Southend Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle when flight EZY 7419 departed this afternoon. (Friday 26 February 2016). 

The new route to the world’s most romantic city is easyJet’s 15th from London Southend and the airline is expected to carry 50,000 passengers a year between London Southend and the French Capital. 

Passengers on board the first flight were given a warm, Parisian style send off by a colourful troupe of Can-Can girls.

Passengers flying from the airport which was voted the Best Airport in Britain’ by Which? magazine three years running are now just a short hop away from the Eiffel Tower, a walk along the Champs Elysées with its endless array of designer stores. Flights to Paris are now operating four times weekly, all year round.  

Neil Slaven, UK Commercial Manager at easyJet, said:

“We’re delighted to be adding a new route to Paris and it’s great to be here today to witness the first flight from the airport. Our Paris routes across the network have proved extremely popular in both the summer and winter owing to its world famous attractions for the leisure market and link for business passengers it brings. We are able to make it easy and affordable to reach both sides of the route providing value for British and French passengers.” 

New York may have the buzz and London may have the nightlife, but Paris has the romance, the architecture and the food.  The ‘City of Light’ (as it is dubbed) has long been preferred city break destination for travellers who come for the unrivalled architecture, the quality of its restaurants and romantic night cruises down the River Seine. But there is more to Paris than just the language of love. This place is also the capital of fashion, haute cuisine and is one of the most culturally rich cities in the world. Paris is full of galleries dripping with artistic masterpieces and streets filled with some of the most iconic buildings in the world. 

Glyn Jones, CEO Stobart Aviation, said:

“It is great to have another easyJet service to and from London Southend, hot on the heels of Lyon and Lanzarote. This will provide even greater choice for passsengers flying from the airport and we wish them every success.“ 

See more and book at www.easyjet.com   

NOTES TO EDITORS

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service. easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 65 million passengers annually, of which more than 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 240 aircraft on more than 780 routes to over 130 airports across 32 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport. easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in seven countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions.  The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £6m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012. 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. Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch almost 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers.   

Over £140 million has been invested in London Southend Airport by owner Stobart Group since it was acquired in 2008. New facilities include a station adjacent to the terminal on the London Liverpool Street line, an Air Traffic Control Tower, radar, terminal building, runway extension and a 4-star Holiday Inn London Southend Airport currently has flights to 17 destinations - Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Jersey, Lyon, Malaga, Menorca, Majorca, Paris, Tenerife and Venice with easyJet.  Flybe, operated by Stobart Air, has departures to Rennes, Groningen and Caen Normandie. London Southend Airport has been named the ‘Best Airport in Britain’ by Which? magazine three years running (2013/14/15). More at www.southendairportcom 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS & IMAGES

For easyJet, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyjet.com or follow @easyJet_Press

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