Southend Airport today launched a major campaign to revive short-haul business and pleasure flights to Europe.

A major publicity drive is under way, with new airport director Bruce Campbell in Vienna at a conference of the European Airlines Association.

He will be talking to airlines in a bid to regain the passenger flights which once went to business and holiday destinations regularly.

Andrew Walters, chairman of Regional Airports, which leases the airport from Southend Council, said: "We are telling the airlines that London Southend Airport is back in business.

"It has been a long haul and it will be longer before we achieve what we want to see in Southend."

Mr Walters said there was no doubt people wanted local airports for short haul flights to European destinations.

He said: "At one time, it was all big airports, but now people want convenience when they go away either on business or pleasure."

Mr Campbell said the conference would be a way of getting to know the scheduled airlines from all over Europe and pointing out Southend was back in business.

The Civil Aviation Authority is due to give final approval to the compromise runway improvements which have been carried out by the airport in the middle of October.