Sun-seeking travellers will gain a new gateway to the Balearic Islands next year, as a lesser-known London airport announces the return of flights to the legendary party island of Ibiza.
New Route from an Unexpected Hub
The service will not operate from London's major, congested airports like Heathrow or Gatwick, nor from the budget-carrier stronghold of Stansted. Instead, the link to the Spanish hotspot will be relaunched from London Southend Airport in Essex.
Low-cost airline EasyJet will operate the flights, which are scheduled to run twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The inaugural flight is set for April 29, 2025.
This move is part of a broader expansion for the airline at the Essex airport. EasyJet will also commence services to Munich, Germany, in September 2025 and will resume its flight to Jersey. These additions will bring the total number of destinations served from London Southend to 24.
Boosting a Regional Airport
Located roughly 41 miles from central London, Southend Airport is accessible via a 55-minute train service from Liverpool Street station, with departures approximately every 20 minutes.
The airport experienced significant growth under the Stobart Group, handling up to two million passengers annually before the pandemic. It was acquired by a new consortium last year but faced a setback with the collapse of Eastern Airways earlier in 2025.
Kevin Doyle, EasyJet's UK country manager, stated: "The addition of these popular Spanish destinations... provides our customers with even more choice and great value when booking their European holidays next summer."
In a separate development, EasyJet is also adding another Spanish route from its large Gatwick base: Reus, which serves Tarragona and the Costa Dorada.
The Context: Spain's Tourism Paradox
Spain continues to be the top overseas destination for British tourists, with 17.8 million visits recorded in 2024, according to Office for National Statistics data.
However, this influx has sparked a growing backlash against overtourism in several popular European locales. In June 2025, unprecedented protests took place in cities including Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Lisbon, Venice, and Genoa.
Organised by groups like the Southern Europe Against Touristification coalition, demonstrators aimed to highlight how mass tourism drives up living costs and displaces local residents. Notably, activists clarified that tourists themselves are not the enemy.
"People who go on vacation to one place or another are not our enemies," explained an organiser in San Sebastián. "Our enemies are those who speculate on housing, who exploit workers and those who are profiting handsomely from the touristification of our cities."
The new route from Southend offers an alternative for travellers seeking the sun and vibrancy of Ibiza, while the aviation industry continues to navigate the complex balance between economic benefit and sustainable tourism.
