easyJet has confirmed a new London Southend–Ibiza air link for summer 2026, marking one of the most commercially significant additions to the airport’s fast-growing route network and underlining the airline’s long-term investment in Essex as a leisure-travel hub. The route will launch on 29 April 2026 with twice-weekly flights every Wednesday and Saturday, aimed at serving both short-break travellers and peak-season holiday demand, The WP Times reports.
The move comes less than a year after easyJet opened its three-aircraft A320neo base at Southend, turning what was once a marginal regional airport into one of the airline’s newest growth platforms in the UK. With Ibiza added, easyJet now operates 24 routes from Southend across Europe and North Africa, transforming the airport’s role in the London travel market.
Why Ibiza is a strategic route
Ibiza is not just another Mediterranean destination. It is one of Europe’s most profitable leisure markets, combining high-yield nightlife tourism, premium resort travel and a rapidly expanding cultural and wellness segment. For airlines, Ibiza delivers strong early-summer demand, high aircraft utilisation and excellent package-holiday conversion.
For London Southend, the island is a perfect fit.
The airport serves an 8.2-million-strong catchment across Essex, East London and the Thames Estuary — areas that traditionally funnel travellers to Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. A direct Ibiza link gives Southend a flagship sun route capable of shifting significant passenger volumes away from larger hubs.
Industry analysts view Ibiza routes as a benchmark of whether an airport is becoming a serious leisure gateway. With this launch, Southend moves decisively into that category.
easyJet’s Southend strategy
easyJet’s investment in Southend is part of a wider strategy to rebalance capacity away from congested mega-airports and toward efficient regional bases. The airline’s A320neo fleet allows it to run profitable medium-haul leisure routes with lower fuel burn, lower noise and higher seat density.
Since opening the base, easyJet has created around 1,200 jobs, including 140 direct pilot and cabin-crew positions, giving Southend a scale of operations not seen since the airport’s pre-pandemic peak. Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said the Ibiza route fits directly into the airline’s expansion model.
“With this latest route and packages to Ibiza from London Southend, we’re giving customers across the region access to one of Europe’s most loved destinations while continuing to grow our newest UK base.”
Package holidays and revenue growth
The route is also designed to feed easyJet Holidays, which has become one of the fastest-growing divisions of the airline’s business.
Packages from Southend to Ibiza will include:
- Flights
- Hotel
- Transfers
- 23kg hold luggage per passenger
- £60 deposit
- Flexible changes up to 28 days before departure
For easyJet, this converts what would otherwise be low-margin seat sales into high-value holiday bookings, particularly for families and older travellers who prefer bundled travel. Ibiza is a high-performing package destination, and Southend gives easyJet Holidays access to a large population of customers who prefer smaller, faster airports to Heathrow or Gatwick.
What it means for London Southend Airport
For London Southend Airport, the Ibiza announcement is a commercial milestone. Nigel Mayes, Business Development Director, described the route as a statement of confidence in the airport’s recovery and future growth. “Ibiza is a firm favourite within our 8.2 million catchment. It appeals to party-goers, culture lovers and relaxation seekers alike. Bringing it back with easyJet is a major step in strengthening our network.”
With 24 easyJet routes now operating, Southend is increasingly positioned as a leisure-first London airport, offering fast security, rail-connected terminals and a growing list of European destinations.
The first service on the London Southend–Ibiza route is due to operate on 29 April 2026, with departures scheduled twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The flights will operate between London Southend Airport (SEN) and Ibiza Airport (IBZ).
For London Southend, the addition of Ibiza represents a further expansion of its Mediterranean network, while for travellers in Essex and East London it provides an additional option for reaching one of Spain’s busiest leisure destinations during the 2026 summer season.
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