Southend Airport owner Esken has confirmed that it has gone into administration.

It said that a potential restructuring plan was ‘no longer commercially viable’.

However, a deal to transfer a majority stake in the airport to private equity investor Carlyle and Cyrus Capital Partners is still progressing, it said.

Southend Airport CEO John Upton said the announcement by Esken ‘has no impact on LSA and it’s business as usual for all our passengers, airlines and teams here at the airport’. 

He added: “The ownership transition of London Southend Airport to Carlyle and Cyrus Capital Partners from Esken PLC is progressing at speed and we’re all looking forward to the completion of this process very soon, which will further cement a financially strong future for our airport.

“With our busiest summer in five years coming up, we’re focused on serving the thousands of passengers who’ll be travelling with us each week to a range of wonderful destinations including Spain, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, and Switzerland.  

“Excitingly, our fast-growing winter programme for 2024/25 has also just gone on sale.”