SOUTHEND Airport will provide more space to passengers and more than 100 hand sanitising stations as part of a multi-million-pound investment.

Owners of the airport Stobart Group has raised £140 million to invest of the coming years to safety measures for passengers after the Covid-19 pandemic has passed.

The airport’s enhanced passenger experience will be focused on maintaining a constant flow of passengers and avoiding bottlenecks and human touchpoints.

The security experience is expected to get even better following an investment in next generation security scanning equipment that means passengers will not be expected to take electronic devices or liquids out of their bags.

The airport estimates that departing passengers benefit from an average of over 17 square metres of space each.

It is restricting access to the terminal to passengers only. It is also ensuring all staff and passengers wear face masks.

There will be more than 100 hand sanitising stations along the passenger journey.

All key contact points, from check in to immigration checks, are protected by bio-shields and a Grab-App allows passengers to pre-order retail items and collect them at the airport.

Southend Airport CEO Glyn Jones said, “We were already delivering an award-winning passenger experience and have been voted Which? best London airport for the last five years.

“This capital raise allows Stobart Group to invest further in our airport and we are actively exploring new opportunities to make the airport even easier and more spacious to use, ensuring passengers can be confident when travelling with us.”

Warwick Brady, CEO of Stobart Group said: “At Southend Airport we will specifically design and implement an improved passenger experience for post-COVID 19 travel.

“This will make use of significant unutilised space and technology to enhance passenger confidence, while providing a cost-efficient base of operation to airlines.”

Last year the airport was revealed by Which? to have the joint fastest security queues, with an average five minute waiting time.