First Bus is removing the Southend Airport stop from its X30 Airlink service in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, starting on 12 April 2026. This change means passengers will no longer have a direct express link between the town and the airport terminal on this specific route because of low passenger numbers at that stop.
According to First Bus, the updated route will now travel through Prittlewell Chase and Southbourne Grove for all journeys. This change includes the introduction of new bus stops on Southbourne Grove and Eastwood Road to replace the previous link to the terminal.
The bus operator decided to change the route after data showed that an average of only 15 passengers used the airport stop each day over the last two years. Councillor Lydia Hyde, cabinet member for climate, environment and waste, has criticised the move, suggesting that losing the direct connection will increase traffic and force passengers to pay more for alternative travel to reach their flights.
These changes come as Southend Airport experiences a period of growth, with 720,000 passengers using the site in 2025. While the X30 will no longer stop there, the terminal remains accessible through Greater Anglia train services and other bus routes mentioned by the Southend-on-Sea City Council, such as Arriva’s 7, 8, and 9 services.
As part of a wider network update to improve punctuality, Great Dunmow will gain an additional weekday service as the X30 takes over the portion of the route between Chelmsford and Stansted Airport previously covered by the X10 bus. The Essex Airlink service has been operating in the region since it was first launched in 2004.
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