Ambitious moves to boost Southend Airport as a major gateway to Europe were today set for take-off.

Chairman Andrew Walters vowed to recreate the 1960s heyday of the regional airport, catering for up to 300,000 passengers each year.

He also announced a major breakthrough in multi-million pound plans to build a new rail station, terminal and visitors centre on the site.

Rochford District Council has finally signalled its backing for individual elements of the scheme after months of negotiations.

Mr Walters spoke as a £500,000 package of initiatives designed to boost services for passengers was unveiled.

This includes a new airport-owned baggage handling company, flight briefing office, board and conference facilities and an executive passenger centre.

Mr Walters said: "This major investment is just a taste of what we will be delivering at Southend over the next 18 months or so.

"Plans are advancing well for the brand new passenger terminal and integrated rail station which will link the airport directly with the heart of London for the first time.

"Once it is up and running, this will be the quickest plane to train transfer airport in the whole of the London area."

The new facilities were opened by Essex Training and Enterprise Council chairman, Peter Rainbird and VIPs from Rochford and Southend councils.

Mr Rainbird said: "Southend Airport is one of the four main gateways into Essex and is ideally placed for passengers both bound both for the City of London and destinations in the east of England."

Mr Walters said the new Southend Airport would be able to cope with aircraft up to Boeing 737 in size.

He added: "The Government and our regional community are all keen to see this airport expand and to return to the heady days of the 1960s when it had almost 700,000 passengers per annum.

"We are going back to those days, but this time with modern and quiet aircraft. Stay with us. The facilities we have opened are another step on that journey."

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