Stobart Group owned Southend Airport is believed to have struck a deal with Amazon to be a parcel air freight hub.

Southend Airport announced it is launching a service providing ‘facilities and expertise’ with a ‘global logistics customer’ but declined to name the customer.

Local media attempted to confirm the deal between the two companies but both declined to comment. Stobart Group announced the deal to the Stock Exchange but again did not name its customer.

Warwick Brady, CEO of Stobart Group, said: “The agreement will enable us to further diversify and add a new revenue stream for London Southend Airport and Stobart Aviation Services, and is expected to contribute towards Stobart Group’s underlying earnings.”

Local media reports suggest that the airport is to be a UK hub for European flights, with the parcels travelling between the airport and the Amazon distribution centres in Basildon and Tilbury.

A spokesman for Stobart added: “Stobart Group is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement with a global logistics customer to provide facilities and expertise to support the import and export of goods at London Southend Airport.

“The initial two-year agreement will see Stobart provide runway access and import/export facilities by converting existing hangarage on the north side of the runway, away from the south side-based commercial passenger operations. Operations will begin late this month after the deal was agreed.”