easyJet has announced it will relaunch flights between London Southend and Amsterdam three years after cutting the route. The low-cost carrier has signed a multi-year partnership which will see it boost capacity at Southend by 30% this summer.

easyJet reveals fourth Southend route

The airline will resume its London Southend Airport (SEN) - Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) route after stopping service in March 2020 amid the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. From May 24th throughout the summer, easyJet will operate up to four weekly flights to AMS on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays - Amsterdam becomes the airline's fourth destination from Southend following its announcement that it will return in March with services to Malaga, Majorca and Faro.

The announcement follows a multi-year agreement with Eksen, the owner and operator of London Southend Airport, which will see easyJet slowly rebuild its network at the airport. In other words, expect easyJet to expand its presence at SEN in the coming years to take advantage of its "proven routes, cost-effective operations, and an attractive and growing catchment area."

Return to Amsterdam

easyJet previously operated between Southend and Amsterdam between 2012 and 2020 for a total of 96 consecutive months. In 2019, the route was Southend's most popular, with easyJet serving around 200,000 passengers with a double-daily service. Interestingly, SEN Business Development Director, Nigel Mayes, believes that demand will be strong enough to make SEN-AMS a year-round route.

Will Southend bounce back?

easyJet officially returned to Southend last year following a 16-month absence, operating seasonal flights to Malaga, Palma and Faro between May and October. With the addition of Amsterdam four times weekly and four more frequencies to Faro, easyJet will operate up to 18 weekly flights out of Southend this summer, a 30% increase on its initial schedule.

In October, Simple Flying explored why London Southend Airport is struggling to get new flights - after both Wizz Air and Ryanair quit the airport in 2021, easyJet was the only airline to return to SEN in Summer 2022 and is currently on course to be the sole airline this year too. Before the pandemic, Southend offered flights to around 40 destinations - operated by the likes of Ryanair, Wizz Air, flybe and easyJet - with an annual footfall of two million travelers. Unfortunately, this dropped to just 100,000 passengers in 2022, but the airport is optimistic about capturing previous volumes again.