Southend airport’s ambition to be seen as London’s sixth airport has been dealt another blow after its main cargo freighter services, operated by Amazon, were withdrawn, according to a report in The Times last week.

Southend, which is owned by Esken, had a highly disrupted pandemic, with airlines closing services, notably Ryanair, leaving easyJet flying only 12 services a week from the airport this summer.

Now the company has admitted that its relationship with Amazon, which has a nearby parcels hub, and had kept the airport going through the passenger travel restrictions of the pandemic, has ended.

In a statement to the stock exchange, the London-listed Esken said: “London Southend airport has been informed by its global logistics partner that it will cease to use cargo operations at the airport, effective mid-September.

“The operation has, over time, reduced from an original 18 flights per week to seven since October 2021 and the global logistics partner has now advised Southend that it will cease operations in line with a change of strategic focus from air freight to road-based cargo.

“This decision is one of several long-term changes to its logistics network throughout the UK designed to fulfil more customer demand locally”.

Due to non-disclosure arrangements, Esken has never formally confirmed that its “global logistics partner” is Amazon and that it is a key part of its operations, despite the fact being well known locally, The Times’ report says.

The company said that even after contract termination compensation from Amazon, the loss of the services will still cost Esken nearly £1m for the rest of this financial year and take £2.9m off operating profits in the next full financial year.

https://southendairport.com