A LOW-COST airline will soon be opening a base at Stansted airport, offering Essex residents flights to 21 European leisure destinations.

The Essex airport will be Jet2.com’s ninth UK base when services begin on March 29 next year.

The airline is marking the launch by offering 50,000 flights for £30.

The venture is expected to create 250 new jobs.

Jet2.com’s chief executive Steve Heapy said the move would make it “a truly national brand”.

Mr Heapy said: “We’re offering routes from London Stansted Airport which we think are under-served.

“We’re offering a flight only product and also our package holiday products, which we think is currently definitely under-served from Stansted Airport.”