--- iata: SEN name: London Southend Airport city: London country: United Kingdom lastUpdated: '2026-09-01' officialWebsite: 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/' sources: - 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/' - 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/getting-to-and-from/trains/' - 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/parking/' - >- https://londonsouthendairport.com/at-the-airport/eating-drinking/skylife-lounge/ - 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/flights/security-preparation/' - 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/flights/security-fast-track/' - >- https://londonsouthendairport.com/news/new-2l-liquid-allowance-at-london-southend-as-airport-unveils-c3-screening-equipment/ - >- https://londonsouthendairport.com/news/london-southend-airport-is-most-improved-in-caa-rankings-for-on-time-performance-and-triples-passenger-volume/ - 'https://londonsouthendairport.com/flights/destinations/' - >- https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/uk-airport-data-2025/annual-2025/ - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-kingdom/london-southend/sen1-skylife-lounge-the-pilot-cafe - 'https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce989vjn4n7o' - 'https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-68484945' - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Southend_Airport' quickFacts: - >- Single-terminal London-system airport on the Southend-on-Sea / Rochford boundary in Essex — roughly 36–42 miles (58–68 km) east of central London; IATA SEN / ICAO EGMC; elevation about 55 ft / 17 m (UK AIP / airport data) - >- UK CAA annual 2025 Table 09 / terminal-passenger CSV: 719,513 terminal passengers (+150% vs 287,758 in 2024). CAA Table 03.1: 30,728 total aircraft movements (+13% vs 2024), of which only 5,551 were air-transport — aero-club and private flying still dominate the movement mix - >- Runway 05/23 is 1,856 m asphalt (UK AIP / NATS). One passenger terminal with Southend Airport railway station about 100 steps / a covered walk away — Greater Anglia quotes about 43 minutes to Stratford and about 52 minutes to London Liverpool Street on the airport Trains page (up to six trains an hour at peak) - >- Operating base for easyJet (three-aircraft base opened 2025; BBC). easyJet is the dominant scheduled carrier in 2026 with a leisure-heavy European / North African network on the airport destinations board. London Southend Jet Centre handles GA / business aviation separately from the passenger terminal - >- Ownership: Carlyle Global Infrastructure Fund about 82.5% and Esken about 17.5% after the March 2024 debt-to-equity recapitalisation (BBC; Wikipedia rounds to ~83% / 17%) - >- C3 / CT cabin-bag scanners live from February 2026: liquids up to 2 L stay in the bag; laptops/tablets stay packed; body scanners for passengers over about 1 m tall (airport Security Preparation + 23 Feb 2026 press release). Security Fast Track from £8pp; SKYLIFE Lounge airside daily 04:00–20:00 bentoTips: - label: Train title: Station is ~100 steps — Oyster stops at Shenfield detail: >- Southend Airport station sits opposite the terminal through a covered walkway (airport Trains page: “100 steps”). Greater Anglia runs direct services toward Stratford and London Liverpool Street — airport copy quotes ~43 minutes to Stratford and ~52 minutes to Liverpool Street, with up to six trains an hour at peak. Contactless/Oyster PAYG ends at Shenfield — you need a valid National Rail ticket for the airport segment (airport FAQ). Freedom Pass likewise needs an extension beyond the London zones. Ticket machines landside before exit and at the station; the airport is cashless for terminal purchases, while the station still accepts cash on at least one TVM. Ticket office typically 06:00–23:00 daily. summary: >- Covered walk to Greater Anglia; ~43–52 min to Stratford / Liverpool Street; no Oyster beyond Shenfield. category: timing - label: Security title: 2 L liquids stay in the bag (CT / C3) detail: >- From February 2026 the airport’s CT (C3) cabin-bag scanners let you leave liquids up to two litres and large electronics in the cabin bag — no 100 ml clear bag at SEN on departure (airport Security Preparation, advice dated February 2026; press release 23 Feb 2026). Aerosols larger than 500 ml are banned in cabin and hold. Empty metal flasks before the checkpoint and refill at the airside fountain. Body scanners screen passengers over about 1 m tall. Families with children five and under may use the Fast Track approach when showing boarding passes, then rejoin the standard lane. Paid Security Fast Track is a dedicated right-hand lane from £8pp, open from two hours before each departure, pre-book only. Return airports may still enforce classic 100 ml rules — pack for the stricter end of the trip. summary: 'CT screening: ≤2 L liquids + electronics stay packed; Fast Track from £8.' category: terminal - label: Lounge title: SKYLIFE is the only lounge — airport max stay 2 h detail: >- After security, walk straight toward Departures — SKYLIFE Lounge doors are ahead before you descend to the main gate lounge (airport directions: if you have already gone down the escalator/stairs you have gone too far). Airport product: daily 04:00–20:00; paid Standard from £36pp; Premium from £46pp adds Fast Track + reserved seating; network cards (Priority Pass, DragonPass, LoungeKey, Diners) accepted with a small pre-book fee marketed from £7pp. Airport T&Cs cap stay at two hours. Priority Pass still titles the venue “Skylife Lounge @The Pilot Cafe” and lists a three-hour max with entrance via the Pilot Café counter — treat the airport’s two-hour / post-security door instructions as authoritative for walk-up layout after the 2025 refurb, and confirm live PP conditions on the day. Cashless payments only in the lounge. summary: >- Sole airside lounge 04:00–20:00; airport max stay 2 h; PP/DragonPass accepted. category: status - label: Drop-off title: Express Pick-up & Drop-off is £8 / 10 minutes detail: >- Kerbside stopping on airport roads with double red lines draws PCNs — use Express Pick-up & Drop-off in the Superior car park (formerly Short Stay), opposite the terminal. Airport parking page: £8 for up to 10 minutes; pay online after exit by midnight the following day. Turn-up Superior tariff otherwise starts at £25 for 0–10 minutes then £80 / 24 h. All four on-site car parks (Superior, Premium, Budget/ex-Mid Stay, Standard/ex-Long Stay) walk to the terminal with no shuttle. Vehicles over 2.0 m high or 5.0 m long must use Budget only. Pre-book online for the deep discounts (airport markets up to 60% vs turn-up). summary: >- Express drop-off £8 / 10 min; no free kerb; all parking is walk-to-terminal. category: timing lounges: - name: SKYLIFE Lounge hours: >- Daily 04:00–20:00 (airport lounge page). Airport max stay 2 hours per person; Priority Pass currently lists a 3-hour max under the legacy “@The Pilot Cafe” title — confirm on the day. access: - Paid Standard entry from £36pp (airport booking) - >- Paid Premium from £46pp — adds Security Fast Track and reserved seating / welcome drinks per airport product copy - >- Priority Pass / DragonPass / LoungeKey / Diners Club (airport passholder list); pre-book fee marketed from £7pp - Walk-up / pay-on-the-day at reception when space allows (price varies) bestFor: - Priority Pass / DragonPass holders on early easyJet banks - Travellers who want a quiet seat before a leisure departure - Anyone bundling Fast Track via the Premium lounge product summary: >- Only passenger lounge at SEN after the 2025 refurb. Airside immediately after security before the downstairs departures hall. Light bites, hot drinks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks; Wi-Fi and charging. Children 36 months and under free on the airport tariff. Network access is capacity-controlled — pre-book if the lounge is the plan. verdict: depends terminal: Main terminal (airside) amenities: - Light bites / snacks and hot & cold drinks (incl. alcohol) - Complimentary Wi-Fi and device charging - Flight information screens - Disabled access (Priority Pass listing) - Cashless payments only waterOptions: - kind: refill name: Airside water fountain after security zone: airside summary: >- Airport Security Preparation: empty metal flasks before screening, then refill at a nearby water fountain after security (also referenced in the February 2026 liquids advice). Primary free hydration once airside. location: >- Immediately after security toward the departures area — follow fountain signage before descending to the main gate lounge terminal: Main terminal isBestValue: true isBestQuality: true - kind: free name: Ask airside F&B outlets for tap water zone: airside summary: >- Airport security copy notes food and drink outlets can provide drinking water if you need a refill beyond the fountain. Polite ask; not a bottle-fill guarantee at every till. location: Airside cafés and bars in the downstairs departures lounge terminal: Main terminal - kind: purchase name: Landside / airside retail bottled water zone: landside price: Typically about £1.50–£3.00 for 500 ml summary: >- Retail and café units sell sealed bottles landside before security and again airside. Useful when you want a spare for the flight without hunting for the fountain. location: Landside retail before security and airside after Duty Free / F&B terminal: Main terminal airportistScore: 7.6 slug: sen region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/sen](/airports/sen). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/sen) - [Lounge directory](/airports/sen/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # London Southend Airport (SEN) London, United Kingdom · Europe Compact Essex London airport with a rail station ~100 steps away, easyJet’s 2025 base, CT security that allows 2 L liquids in the bag, and a single SKYLIFE lounge — tiny compared with STN/LTN but unusually easy door-to-gate once you are on Greater Anglia. ## Airportist Score **7.6 / 10** - Comfort: 7.0 - Navigation: 8.5 - Food: 6.5 - Transport: 8.5 - Disruption resilience: 7.3 ## At a glance - Passengers: 0.72M - Terminals: 1 - Typical security: 10 min - On-time: 78% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - easyJet leisure trips when Greater Anglia beats the slog to Stansted or Luton - Priority Pass / DragonPass holders who pre-book SKYLIFE on early banks - Travellers who want CT 2 L liquids rules and a short single-terminal walk ## Watch out for - Oyster/contactless PAYG ends at Shenfield — buy a National Rail ticket to Southend Airport - Food and retail choice is limited; do not expect a major-hub food court - Do not confuse SEN with STN (Stansted), LCY (London City), or SOU (Southampton) ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/sen/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/sen/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/sen/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/sen/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/sen/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/sen/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/sen/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/sen/reviews.md)