Recent statistics published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have shown that London Southend has risen from third to first place amongst UK airports.
The airport, which received an 84% on-time performance, has overtaken Liverpool and Aberdeen to claim the number one position during the second quarter of 2026.
During the first six months of 2026, London Southend has retained its position as the UK’s fastest-growing airport – an accolade it previously achieved in 2025.
Airport CEO Jude Winstanley said:In a week that has been dominated by air traffic issues across the country, I am incredibly proud to be able to tell passengers across East London, Essex and East Anglia that if they want their holiday to start – and end – on time, London Southend should be their first choice.
The airport team were simply not prepared to settle for third place in the UK CAA rankings. They have continued to improve our performance quarter on quarter, and that hard work has now taken us to the top of the table.
What makes this achievement even more special is that we have delivered it while continuing to be the UK’s fastest-growing airport. We’re growing quickly, but we’re doing it while keeping punctuality and the passenger experience firmly at the heart of what we do.
With the summer season now coming to an end, the airport is now preparing to launch five new routes from the end of October: Belfast City, Budapest, Edinburgh, Lyon and Sharm El Sheikh.
Meanwhile, plans will also see the airport extend recently introduced services to Jersey and Munich into the next season, bringing its winter network to 26 destinations, and 30 across the whole year.
