WARRINGTON-based logistics group Stobart has announced a 10-year deal with Easyjet at its Southend airport development.

Stobart, which employs about 1,000 staff at its Warrington trucking hub and Widnes multi-modal site, is investing heavily in Southend, including a 50 minute rail link to London, ahead of next year’s Olympic Games.

The agreement will see three Easyjet planes based at the airport from April next year.

Airline chiefs expect to handle about 800,000 passengers a year at the airport, which will take its annual throughput to nearly 1 million.

Up to 10 leisure and business destinations are planned, including Barcelona, Faro and Ibiza, and Easyjet expects to develop further routes over the coming years.

Stobart chief executive Andrew Tinkler said today: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Easyjet. This supports and validates our strategy to develop London Southend as a fast and friendly airport serving London and the South East.

“Our target is to achieve in excess of two million passengers and this agreement allows us to have continued confidence in this target.”

Easyjet customer and revenue director Catherine Lynn added: “We are excited to be opening London Southend as Easyjet’s 20th base airport.

“The airport is in a fantastic location just outside London with a fast rail link into the city.

“This is a unique opportunity to offer a world class customer experience, with passengers able to get from the plane to the train in 15 minutes.”

Stobart Group is extending Southend’s runway, opening up the airport to greater capacity aircraft.

A new control tower began operation this March, a new, dedicated train station on the Southend to Stratford and Liverpool Street line is set to open in July, a new terminal building is due for completion this autumn, the runway extension will be ready early next year, and a new hotel will open in 2012.