This weekend Southend Airport was the busiest it has been for several years, as it handled extra flights bringing fans to the Champions League final at Wembley stadium.
Aviation enthusiast Aaron Chesham, said: “It was absolutely fantastic to see the airport doing so well, hats off to everyone involved.”
The extra flights all operated within Southend Airport’s existing controls, which allows for a certain number of night flights under the terms of the S106 agreement.
The airport issued an advisory notice to residents living near Southend Airport due to the increase in flights. Given the timing of the football game, flights were operating from 11pm on 1st June through to 6.30am on 2nd June.
However, a resident who lives near the airport wasn’t impressed by the increase in flights. The resident, who asked not to be named, said he noticed flights arriving or departing around every half hour.
He said: “I had to record all the TV programs, so I could rewind the ones playing during a take off. All night, sleeping in 30 mins shifts. Great, and all so the football fans & players could get home without spending hotel costs.”
Photo by Aaron Chesham.