London Southend awarded post-Brexit trade grant

Out of 53 applications for the Port Infrastructure Fund, Southend was one of only two airports to be awarded the financial aid

As part of the UK Government's Port Infrastructure Fund, London Southend Airport has been awarded a grant of £2.1m to promote trade operations post-Brexit.

It was recognised that the existing import and export cargo services are crucial to ensure trade links are maintained beyond the Brexit transition date.

The funding will be put towards building infrastructure and facilities to enable customs and sanitary checks to be carried out on all cargo arriving and departing from the site.

Stobart Group
Photo: Stobart Group

James Duddbridge, MP for Rochford and Southend, is very pleased with the announcement: “I am delighted that Southend Airport has been successful with its bid and is to receive more than £2.1 million as part of the Government’s Port Infrastructure Fund.

“The airport is vital to our local economy, and this additional investment will provide an important boost to the airport, local jobs and our town."

Out of 53 applications for the financial aid, London Southend and East Midlands were the only two airports with cargo hubs to receive the grant.

Around £200m has been invested into UK border controls to certify that all operations will take place after the EU exit.

Regular cargo flights conducted by Titan Airways and ASL Airlines for a global logistics company have been crucial for the London base's survival during the pandemic after passenger traffic was severely affected by travel bans and lockdowns.