04 June, 2014: The Essex airport achieved a customer satisfaction score of 84% in the survey of more than 11,000 people by consumer magazine Which?

Customers praised speedy check-in and arrivals at the airport, which was acquired by Stobart Group in 2008.

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, announced today that it will offer direct return flights between London Southend Airport and Maastricht Aachen Airport and from 10 July 2014, operated by its franchise partner, Stobart Air.

Flights starting from €34.99 including taxes and charges are available now for booking at www.flybe.com. Services will operate six days a week (see full schedule below).

In the first year of the route’s operation, Flybe intends to carry up to 25,000 passengers.

In three years Flybe aims to fly 80,000 passengers. This welcome news comes just months after Ryanair pulled its London Stansted service from Maastricht Aachen Airport.

London Southend is London’s newest airport andwas recently recognised ‘Best Airport in Britain’ by readers of Which? magazine. Travel time by train from London Southend to Liverpool Street in the heart of London is only 53 minutes. The airport’s new terminal is less than 100 paces from a brand new rail station, with up to eight rail services every hour. Passengers with hand luggage can travel from plane to train in just 15 minutes. Security checks at the Airport take a maximum of four minutes.

Peter O’Mara, Commercial and Operations Development Manager at Stobart Air said that London Southend Airport represents a value for money, easy and accessible choice for both business and leisure passengers — “We are delighted to announce our new Maastricht Aachen to London-Southend service.

This is Flybe’s first direct flight service from Maastricht Aachen to London. The service offers a low-cost flight to an airport which is only 53 minutes from the centre of London. Maastricht, Aachen and the Euregion have a strong business community and the availability of return services to London Southend will provide convenience for many businesses in the area. For leisure passengers, the London Southend route provides a low-cost and hassle-free travel alternative to UK capital. We look forward to welcoming passengers from Maastricht, Aachen and the Euregion on board from 10 July.”

Sander Heijmans, Chief Executive, Maastricht Aachen Airport said “The fact that Flybe will operate non-stop flights from Maastricht to London Southend is very welcome news. To have the biggest European regional carriers as a new customer for the airport is a significant development that fits in our strategy to offer air connections not only to the leisure passenger but also to our business community.

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