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Now here's a question for you. Which airport, in the last year (2023), do you reckon has been voted Britain's best? Your mind might immediately go to the obvious contenders; Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted. But the real answer might surprise you, for it's actually London Southend Airport.
Voted the best airport in Britain and also the best London airport by the online consumer group Which?, it has seen over 2.6 million passengers depart and arrive in the last four years. Its close proximity to both Rochford and the seaside town of Southend-On-Sea in Essex might have something to do with that, and it is well connected to many other locations in the southernmost corner of the county, as well as being easily accessible from the M25 motorway. The airport itself has good rail links to London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria, and bus connections to the rest of Essex.
The airfield was first established in World War I, by the Royal Flying Corps, as RFC Rochford, in 1914, with both they and also the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) taking control of the base until 1919, when it closed and reverted to farmland.
In 1935, it was opened as a municipal airport, officially opened in the September of that year by the then Under-Secretary of State for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon, who arrived in his deHavilland Leopard Moth. However, with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Air Ministry requisitioned the airfield, which became known as RAF Rochford, and was used as a satellite airfield, as well as a base for fighter squadrons including Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheims.
From the 1950s onwards, the airfield returned to civilian and commercial use and expanded greatly, with three new tarmac runways added. And by the time the 1960s dawned, Southend had become the third busiest airport in the UK. However, by the end of February 1972, Channel Airways, which had run flights out from the airport, had ceased operations, and by the early 1990s, it was sold by Southend Borough Council as it had been steadily on a decline, losing money and passengers.
But it was 1993 when Regional Airports Ltd purchased the airport, rebranding it to what we now know it as today. It was in their hands until 2008, when it was then sold to the Stobart Group, who thus bought in a lot of the expansions and extensions that have helped it become so popular, with a new terminal opened in 2012 ahead of the Olympic Games being held in London.
Today, those looking for Flying Experiences in the East of England such as Helicopter Flights and Pleasure Flights can look to take to the skies above Essex - or to head in-land towards the City of London - to enjoy a special sightseeing trip with a difference from London Southend Airport. We have a selection of these packages for one or for two available to book, starting from as little as £49. They are a particularly great gift idea for any special occasions, so why not explore them above with us on FlyDays today?