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For the second year running Which? names London Southend Airport the Best in Britain  

22nd Aug 2014

 

London Southend Airport has beaten all other UK airports for the second year running to once again be named Best in Britain in the latest Which? airport passenger survey.(joint top in the poll with Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield airport, which also scored 85%)

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The Essex terminal topped the poll with a customer score of 85% - a 1% increase on last year - and a maximum five star rating in seven of the ten categories assessed (that’s an improvement on the five categories maximum scored in the 2013 poll).

 

This left other London airports such as City (80%), Heathrow (Terminal 5, 64%), Gatwick (North, 49%)  Stansted (43%) and Luton (37%) lagging further down the table.

 

In June 2014, 7,011 Which? members were asked to complete an online survey about their experiences of flying from a UK airport in the past year. The customer scores are based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the airport to a friend.

 

Categories surveyed included queues at security, Pick-up and Drop-off, queues for Passport Control, queues for Bag Drop, queues for Baggage Reclaim, space following Security and distance to Boarding Gate (all of which London Southend scored the maximum five stars in), plus seating provision, queues for Check-In and food outlets.

 

London Southend Airport Managing Director Roger Clements said “This is fantastic news and once again testament to all the hard work that the team here at London Southend has put in. We think our short walking distances, friendly staff and unique ‘Simply Easier’ promises to passengers – that they should wait no more than 4-minutes to go through security and that, on arrival with hand baggage, they are on the rail station platform within 15 minutes of leaving the aircraft with a fast and frequent service to the heart of London every 20-minutes – are the key factors of our success over the last two years and why more and more passengers are choosing London's newest airport.”

 

He added “Around the time this survey was undertaken we completed a £10 million extension to the terminal in order to ensure that we continue to deliver these high standards of customer service as the airport grows. As well as increased Check-In and Security Desks the Departure Lounge also became 4.5 times larger, meaning a huge increase in seating provision. We are now investing heavily in new restaurant and bar facilities and we hope to have them open by early 2015. So next year when Which? undertakes its survey we are aiming to top score in all of the categories.”

Which? Executive Director, Richard Lloyd, said “The message from travellers is clear – larger airports continue to let people down on the basics, from baggage reclaim to food outlets. People deserve an enjoyable break without any stress, so we want to hear from consumers so that we can help to stop the holiday hassles.”

 

 

RDC  added:

 

Rochford District Council has welcomed the news that London Southend Airport has been named the Best in Britain – for the second year running.

 

This is positive news for the London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP) which aims to make the most of the opportunities presented by the growth of the Airport.

 

The Plan has been produced by Rochford District Council and Southend Borough Council and includes a vision for the future of the nearby Saxon Business Park, off Cherry Orchard Way.

 

It is designed to create thousands of much-needed jobs, while also including environmental enhancements, transport improvements and regeneration proposals.

 

Leader of Rochford District Council, Councillor Terry Cutmore, said: “It is a terrific achievement that London Southend Airport is topping the charts for customer satisfaction, as it really is putting both Southend and the Rochford District firmly on the map. We have been seeking to make the most of this success with our London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP) which is designed to create 6,000 jobs, to the benefit of local residents and businesses. The knock-on effect of this is phenomenal, as the JAAP has already helped us secure funding through SELEP (the South East Local Enterprise Partnership) for major road improvements on the A127. My hope is that we can continue to build upon this success, to drive forward further improvements which ensure the prosperity of our local towns.”

 

- The JAAP has been subject to extensive consultation and public examination by a Government Inspector and several changes have now been made. A further consultation is now underway with relation to these changes (not any other aspect of the Plans), which will be considered by the Inspector. We want to hear your views.

To have your say go to www.rochford.gov.uk/jaap or call 01702 318191 to obtain an official representation form.