The world of business aviation has honoured the battling boss of Southend Airport with its highest award.

Andrew Walters, the airport's chairman, received the 2003 European Aviation Award at the EBAA convention, held in Geneva.

Andrew Walters - has been awarded the industry's top honour Picture: MIKE MINERS

Around 6000 fellow airline professionals from around the world attended the convention and award ceremony, the largest event in the industry's calendar.

Di Hollander, Southend airport's director of marketing, said: "This is a very significant award, the highest accolade that the business aviation industry can bestow.

Andrew Walters was selected for the award by his peers as a mark of the respect in which he is held.

"Only one other person received the award this year."

Mr Walters has famously battled for the survival and enlargement of Southend Airport. He was in little doubt as to what the reward represented.

He said: "The quality the judges mentioned in particular was persistence.

"I think this award reflects a struggle to bring aviation to a wider community, sometimes against considerable odds.

"It has been said that people admire the way I have fought to bring Southend Airport back from the brink of closure."

Mr Walters has spent 35 years in the aviation industry. Starting as a helicopter pilot, he founded his first business, a parcel freight carrier, in 1973.

Published Wednesday, June 4, 2003

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