THOUSANDS of fewer passengers are flying with easyJet from Southend Airport this year, according to figures announced by the airport’s owners.

Stobart Group, the airport’s parent company, said there was a drop of 99,000 easyJet passenger numbers this year based on the same period 12 months ago.

The Stobart Group published the figures in its preclose trading statement on the London Stock Exchange, comparing figures for the five months up to July 31 to the same period last year.

Although the statement showed a 99,000 drop to 410,000 easyJet passengers in the period, it also revealed revenue per passenger had increased – but maintained this was a “short-term” drop in numbers.

It said: “Our target is to achieve over 2.5 million passengers annually by 2018 at London Southend Airport.

“We reported in the AGM statement in June that we are working with easyJet to determine the optimum capacity for the routes it operates from London Southend Airport.

“Stobart Group guided then that this would lead to a shortterm fall in passenger numbers over the summer. As a result of this, passenger numbers in the five months to July 31, decreased by 99,000 yearon- year to 410,000, but revenue per passenger increased.

“Stobart Group’s growing relationship with easyJet, coupled with discussions with other low-cost airlines, gives us confidence we will be well placed to announce new routes and achieve our target of welcoming 2.5million passengers to London Southend Airport annually by 2018.”

Chief executive Andrew Tinkler added: “We have continued to focus primarily on delivering value in our two high-growth divisions, energy and aviation, and we continue to build the infrastructure and relationships to meet our targets in these markets.”

In July, easyJet announced it would scrap its Southend to Berlin route in February to focus on busier services, hinting a new destination would be announced to replace it.

A new route to Mahon on the Balearic island of Menorca was recently launched and additional services to Lyon and Lanzarote will begin this winter.