# History Southend has roots in early civil aviation, later declined as larger London airports expanded, and returned to scheduled growth after major redevelopment in the 2010s. ## Early aviation Southend has long civil-aviation roots and was an important regional airport well before the modern low-cost era. ## Decline and redevelopment As Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted grew, Southend lost much of its earlier prominence. A major redevelopment, including a new terminal and railway station, brought scheduled passenger growth back in the 2010s. ## Recent role Today Southend functions as a small alternative London airport whose appeal depends on a matching route, easy rail access and a less crowded terminal rather than network breadth. ## Fun facts - Southend handled a then-record **692,686 passengers in 1967**, long before its modern low-cost revival. - The airport's dedicated railway station opened in 2011 and is only about **100 steps from the terminal**, an unusually short station-to-check-in walk for a London airport. - During the 2020 shutdown, airport staff used the closed runway for a charity run and cycle event rather than letting it sit completely idle. See Southend's [airport history](https://londonsouthendairport.com/corporate/about-london-southend-airport/) and its account of the [2020 runway event](https://londonsouthendairport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/lsa-annual-report-2020-21-web-83d348d8.pdf). --- ## Links here - [Southend Airport](page:537)