New Flybe route from Southend Airport to Maastricht takes off

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has begun the last of its six new European routes from Southend Airport. In the first three years of operation the airline plans to fly 80,000 passengers on its Maastricht route with 25,000 in its first year.

This morning, passengers departed on the first flight to Maastricht while inbound passengers from Maastricht arrived to Southend Airport for the first time. The route will operate morning flights six days a week.

In June Flybe launched three new routes from London Southend to Groningen, Netherlands; Münster Osnabrück, Germany and Rennes in France. Last week new routes to Caen, France and Antwerp, Belgium commenced operations. In order to service these routes Stobart Air has based a second Flybe aircraft at Southend Airport.

The Flybe branded routes are operated by Stobart Air as part of a franchise agreement between the two airlines. Stobart Air has targeted 200,000 passengers on its six new Southend services in the first full year of operations, rising to 700,000 passengers within three years.

The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Simon Fagan, arrived on the first flight from Maastricht to Southend Airport this morning and said he was delighted that the all six new routes from Southend Airport were now fully operational.

He added: “Maastricht is a very popular tourist destination in the Netherlands due to its history which is illustrated in wonderful architecture around the city. The city also play host to a number of notable festivals of every variety throughout the year. From the Amstel Gold Cycling Race starts in the city every April and a world class jazz festival in the autumn. There is enormous potential for this route as we are providing the people of Maastricht and surrounding region convenient access to London.”

London Southend Airport Managing Director, Roger Clements, said: “I am delighted to witness the sixth Flybe route to be launched for London Southend Airport in the past five weeks. Launching this new route to Maastricht signifies the continued progress that the airport is making in expanding its services into Europe. These six new routes will enable more passengers from continental Europe to choose London Southend as their airport of choice to access central London.”