Work is set to start in November on a £10 million extension to the terminal at London Southend Airport that will help create more than 300 new jobs.

Under the latest Phase 2 extension the terminal building will become 90 metres longer. The number of check-in desks / baggage drop-off points and the amount of space for passengers in security and the departure lounge will expand with a larger arrivals area and more space for retail and catering. Phase 1 of the terminal, which is close to a new railway station, became operational last February.

Kier has been appointed as the key contractor for the work and construction of the extension. The first phase a new arrivals facility is set to be completed next May and the final phase will be finished before Christmas 2013.

The 300 new jobs will be in be in roles such as passenger service, security, retail, catering, baggage handling, engineering and maintenance, plus airline crew from London Southend based airline operations.

Managing director Alastair Welch said: “Our aim is to ensure that we deliver a very special level of customer service in Southend and this extension will allow us to ensure we can continue to deliver those high standards as the airport grows. This is also further evidence of the role the redeveloped airport is playing in supporting the regeneration of the wider Essex economy.”