Easyjet has picked Southend to be London's sixth airport in time for the Olympics in 2012.
The budget airline plans to launch 70 flights a week from London Southend on 10 routes, including Barcelona, Milan and Ibiza, from April next year.
Haulage firm Stobart has spent £60m revamping the airport in time for the Olympics.
The airport will be connected to the capital via a new train station which will link to London's Liverpool Street. Eight trains an hour will transport passengers back and forth. Passengers should be able to get from plane to train in 15 minutes.
