SOUTHEND 5

[DC3 Dave]

Does Glyn Jones have a masters degree in management babble, or is he into yoga?

First look at Mark Baumann's new Bourgee champagne bar and restaurant set to open at Southend Airport this month (From Echo)

[compton3bravo]

In printing parlance it is called a load of bo****ks!

[LTNman]

So champagne drinkers flock to Southend? And there was me thinking that McDonalds would do well.

[Barling Magna]

79 pax on today's Prague flight. This seems to be one route that's working well.

[SEN Observer]

Do we have any figures on any other routes?

[DC3 Dave]

Originally Posted by LTNman

So champagne drinkers flock to Southend? And there was me thinking that McDonalds would do well.

You're not wrong. Unfortunately, the airport's customer centric approach and challenger mentality doesn't perfectly align with them.

[Barling Magna]

True, but there's already a McDonalds within 200 yards which you can sneak out to.....

[tws123]

I think it's good that SEN offers something different from every other British airport, instead of having just all chain restaurants/shops.

[davidjohnson6]

There's a champagne bar accessible by all pasengers at each of Heathrow's terminals and both of Gatwick's terminals - no need for frequent flyer status. Admittedly under the branding of a chain though...

[Pain in the R's]

Southend is not Heathrow or has the some of the higher end passengers that Gatwick attracts. Southend main passenger base are those passengers who want to fly but on a budget. It is a shame that this new outlet will not interest the majority of Southend's passengers.

[mik3bravo]

Originally Posted by Pain in the R's

Southend is not Heathrow or has the some of the higher end passengers that Gatwick attracts. Southend main passenger base are those passengers who want to fly but on a budget. It is a shame that this new outlet will not interest the majority of Southend's passengers.

I don't agree. People always like a glass of bubbly and it's a great start to a holiday. Yes it is a novility but I think the cash tills will do well. I'd rather see this than a Wetherspoons and wish them well.

[AirportPlanner1]

I also don't agree because a fair chunk of passengers are local, have money and fly from SEN out of convenience. Not quite the pure budget crowd alluded to. Bourgee isn't to my taste, it's too pretentious. I live in close proximity to one of their two restaurants. But those of a certain type that you see on Instagram heading off to their villa in Marbella or a lads weekend in Amsterdam will love it.

[EastMids]

The same could be argued about the champagne bar at St Pancras, and yet it has done well since the station was revamped. I suspect there will be plenty of holidaymakers willing to splurge on a one-off drop of bubbly before they jet off to the beaches.

[DC3 Dave]

I think what's important is that there's a better vibe around the airport at the moment, with the new routes and improvements inside and out. Of course, it's all small beer compared to other airports, but then it's a small scale airport trying to find a way to grow and make money.

As pax numbers (hopefully) rise the trick will be to keep them flowing into departures with enough time to part with some cash. At least there's no long trek to the gate to factor in. What the airport can't do is start advising pax to turn up 3 hours early.

I may indulge in a glass of Bollinger next time I'm there, but only if they have some jellied eels to go with it.

[mikkie4]

DC DAVE

if you can fit them in your hand luggage, take your own jellied eels and maybe a few cockles and 2 slices of brown bread and butter....yum yum

[tws123]

Proposed London Helicopter Link

Stobart have announced they are in negotiations with Apollo Air Services (Carlisle) to launch an executive helicopter transfer service to Vanguard Heliport on the Isle of Dogs in an attempt to entice more executive jets to the airport. Interesting move by them, and presumably this is the major anticipated announcement ahead of EBACE in Geneva (their stand pictured below).

[22/04]

Back to the future. Anyone remember the cocktail bar next to spectators on the roof?

[Expressflight]

tws123

It seems "major announcements" aren't quite what they used to be then.

[tws123]

expressflight yes it is somewhat underwhelming. Nonetheless it could be a useful addition. Not quite the whole executive terminal rebuild we were hoping for.

[Tagron]

We're ready to launch the new Stobart Exec Jet Centre at #EBACE2017 & show everyone we are London's most convenient and competitive airport

From the LSA Twitter page