Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment, joined local MPs James Duddridge and Mark Francois at London Southend airport to meet new recruits at the airport.
Airport owners, Stobart Group, have substantially redeveloped the airport and added a brand new railway station.
The new control tower is now operational, a new terminal building is under construction and the new train station is ready, with up to eight services an hour into Stratford.
The 2012 London Olympics venue is approximately 40 minutes away. Liverpool Street is 50 minutes for the airport.
Chris Grayling MP said: “This is a fantastic and progressive project serving the South East and Greater London with what is essentially a brand new airport that will bring many exciting opportunities to the region.
“Significant new job opportunities and broader potential across business, tourism and international prospects will result from this redevelopment, and it was a pleasure to meet some of the enthusiastic first beneficiaries of the project today.”
The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal by 2020.
