London Southend Airport, a part of the Stobart Air division of the Stobart Group, has won the prestigious ERA (European Regions Airline Association) Airport Achievement Award 2010.
The award was created to recognise the best achievements by an ERA member airport over the previous 12 months and London Southend's success is based on the positive role it has played in support of future intra-European air transport operations.
Beating off strong competition from other domestic and international airports, London Southend's collaborative work with the local community and relevant local bodies to secure planning permission for a runway extension, was hailed as a particular success.
The announcement was made during a prestigious award ceremony at the Catalunya Congress Centre, in Barcelona, Spain. On announcing London Southend as the winner, the Chairman of the Judging Panel commented - "This is a tremendous achievement (for Stobart Air) and one which will have fundamental and long lasting effects on air transport in this region. The runway extension - when completed in 2011 - will greatly enhance the airport's business and will result in increased services for the community. The team involved is to be applauded for its astute approach in seizing the window of opportunity provided by the London 2012 Olympics and the professional execution of its campaign achieving planning permission for a runway extension. Determination and dedication were the drivers leading to the approval for the runway extension."
Stobart Air Managing Director Alastair Welch said "We are delighted to win this award, which is testament to all the hard work that has been put in by the entire team at Stobart Air and London Southend Airport in making the plans for our development, a reality. It's an exciting time for the airport right now as we are beginning to see all the developments we have been planning and working towards finally starting to happen. This award from Europe's leading Airline Association demonstrates the interest that there is in London Southend's future and the role the airport can play in further regeneration of the area."
Stobart Group CEO, Andrew Tinkler, added: "Since Stobart Group took ownership of Southend Airport in 2008, the pace of change at the site has been quite marked, and over the Summer we have completed the outer-structure of the new control tower, constructed the new railway station (with fast connections into London Liverpool Street station in less than 50 minutes), have secured local consent and planning for the essential runway extension, and are in advanced negotiations with a short-list of potential new passenger airline partners. This award is entirely deserved by the Stobart Air team, and will give them even more incentive to carry on the excellent work to get London Southend Airport to where it belongs as a favoured London and South-East airport in the coming months."