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Join Date: Apr 2008
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This is starting to look and sound like a shambles, minimal advertising, routes disappearing and re-appearing on websites and the huge costs of most flights, add to that now a 20% discount on all new routes and clearly they are struggling to attract footfall with only a few weeks until take off!!
stweyb
What's this talk of "huge cost of most flights"? Most of the 12 routes launched are very competitive and feature at or near the very top of the choices when searching on the main airfare booking portals.
If you're talking about FSC the £400 prices being shown at present are normal Flybe practice if a route may be about to be pulled as it keeps the route live on the system until then. They're not expecting people to book at those prices.
The VIE I booked this afternoon cost around £64 return and I think that's very competitive.
What's this talk of "huge cost of most flights"? Most of the 12 routes launched are very competitive and feature at or near the very top of the choices when searching on the main airfare booking portals.
If you're talking about FSC the £400 prices being shown at present are normal Flybe practice if a route may be about to be pulled as it keeps the route live on the system until then. They're not expecting people to book at those prices.
The VIE I booked this afternoon cost around £64 return and I think that's very competitive.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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The Ad is being run in a number of essex papers. I don't think people can complain of minimal advertising. There have been ads in the Daily Mail and local papers. I've also seen ads online.
There are a number of reasons flight prices can be high including the possibility of the route being dropped but lets just calm down and wait instead of writing off everything SEN does.
And again, I repeat my point about the airport website means nothing. Updating a website can be a task given to an intern. Most good airports don't often have an updated website so I wouldn't read too much into what you find on an online route map.
There are a number of reasons flight prices can be high including the possibility of the route being dropped but lets just calm down and wait instead of writing off everything SEN does.
And again, I repeat my point about the airport website means nothing. Updating a website can be a task given to an intern. Most good airports don't often have an updated website so I wouldn't read too much into what you find on an online route map.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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I had a quick fiddle on the Flybe bookings site and the Southend airport website to view what is on offer. Apart from Figari which is not listed, I found many flights very cheap. I remember Cologne was £50 return, I think Zadar £150 return.....that cant be bad for a local airport. Maybe this has all been set up in a rush with increased promotions and advertising only occurring now, but maybe breaking even for the first year is acceptable, and then a reliable stablished route would do better in 2018. Here in Lux, Luxair are heavily "threatened" on their LCY service, but despite RYR offering £10 one way tickets from STN, it seems there is a market for both. The DASH 8s into LCY are nearly always full, and the evening flights from STN carry 150+ pax. Amazing!
No, you would need to see a considerably improved load factor across the whole season to even consider increased frequency and with SEN-RNS being double-daily most days of the week this summer it already meets its market requirements. The ATR is a good aircraft for this type of route and has the capacity to cater for the peaks and troughs of demand.
Join Date: Jun 2011
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whitelighter you might want to read this article: London Southend Airport announces 12 new routes for 2017
Join Date: Jun 2011
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PowdAir update
If you believe what they say:
- The leased aircraft upgrade from F100 to A319 is due to strong interest
- They've now been given the green light to start flying
- Their finance is in place
- SEN is a definite UK destination for W17/18 (out of 4 other confirmed)
- New dedicated booking website will be launching soon (Easter)
- The leased aircraft upgrade from F100 to A319 is due to strong interest
- They've now been given the green light to start flying
- Their finance is in place
- SEN is a definite UK destination for W17/18 (out of 4 other confirmed)
- New dedicated booking website will be launching soon (Easter)
Last edited by tws123; 13th Mar 2017 at 21:20.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I hope it's true, and not just that they had trouble getting an F100.
I wonder how they measured "interest". I prefer the measurements that involve the number of people who typed in their credit card number; but I guess that as a bean counter I would say that...
I wonder how they measured "interest". I prefer the measurements that involve the number of people who typed in their credit card number; but I guess that as a bean counter I would say that...
Join Date: Jun 2011
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I suppose if Figari is dropped then they will actively seek a replacement (with similar distance and frequency). I'd also guess that some winter seasonal destinations will be added. Still no word on the possible 3x daily MAN route. It's impossible to predict what Stobart are planning on adding or removing from the schedules in the coming months.
Last edited by tws123; 14th Mar 2017 at 11:27.