Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Centreline will be keeping two aircraft at Southend, which is due to undergo significant expansion.

The aircraft, a four-seater Seneca and a nine-seater Kingair executive turboprop, will be permanently based at Southend to provide an air taxi service to and from all of the UK’s 300 regional airports and London. There are also plans for Centreline to establish jet aircraft at Southend soon.

MD Philip Brockwell said: “We chose Southend because it is a perfect base from which to serve all the major London airports, plus a few specialist general aviation airports such as Biggin Hill.”

Southend is about to undergo a major redevelopment that will see the construction of a new passenger terminal and a new rail link into London directly from the airport.

The airport is expecting a substantial boost in business as the region prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Brockwell said: “We recognise that Southend is a key location and, as the airport grows, we wanted to be sure that Centreline was firmly established as the airport’s key air charter company.”