FOLLOWING Glaxosmithkline’s announcement last week of mass redundancies at its Worthing facility it is encouraging to hear of easyJet’s huge recruitment drive.

Yesterday the budget airline announced it was launching its largest cabin crew intake in its 21-year history.

More than 1,200 men and women will be given permanent and fixed-term positions – with more than half of those jobs set to be based at Gatwick.

We often forget just how important Gatwick is to Sussex.

Thousands work there in roles as wide-ranging as pilots and police officers to baggage handlers and chefs.

The Government may have chosen rival Heathrow for expansion in the south east but yesterday’s announcement proves just how important Gatwick still is.

Given the ongoing uncertainty over Brexit it is also good to know easyJet considers Gatwick as one of its main European hubs for the future.

While easyJet’s commitment to Gatwick is promising, the latest rail performance figures are not.

Southern was bottom of the latest passenger satisfaction ratings again and Gatwick Express did not fare much better.

If we want Gatwick to continue to be a hub for the south east then the trains have to be sorted out.

It is no good being able to fly from Europe in an hour if it then takes twice as long to get from the airport to a UK destination.

Southern’s reputation is in tatters and deservedly so.

If Govia Thameslink, which runs Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink, does not start making improvements soon then airlines, investors and businesses will start to look elsewhere.