London Southend Airport has thrown a surprise party for a local passenger on their 30th trip through the airport.
VIP (‘very important passenger’), Susie Allen and her husband David, landed back at London Southend after enjoying a milestone holiday to Palma de Mallorca.
The couple, who live in Ashingdon, Essex, were presented with a Golden Ticket by members of the airport fire department as they stepped foot off the plane.
The gesture, a nod to David’s 30 years of service as a fireman at Leigh Fire Station, entitles passengers to free parking and fast-track through security on their next flight.
Students from The Music Man Project, an education service for children and adults with learning disabilities, brought the party to life with songs, smiles and live music once they walked into Arrivals.
Local ice cream parlour, Rossi’s, kindly donated a hamper of sweet treats and, naturally, ice cream.
Airport CEO John Upton said: “In my first week working at London Southend Airport it has been great to meet this incredible couple who have travelled through this airport 30 times over the past ten years. David spent 30 years of his life serving the community by working as a fireman at Leigh Fire Station.
“It was therefore great to recognise this by involving more people in the community in this surprise event and I like to thank our incredible fire team for taking part. The Music Man Project and Rossi’s Ice Cream also both play a big role in this community and I am looking forward to getting to know them more, and also seeing many more passengers taking lots of trips through our airport over the coming years.
Susie said: “Since 2012 we’ve flown all your carriers and most of the routes: Copenhagen, Corfu, Budapest, Newquay, Reus, Barcelona, Milan, Malta, Sardinia via Malta, Malaga, Amsterdam, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Menorca, Faro, Jersey and there’s probably some I have forgotten.
“I absolutely adore the airport!”
