A couple of clarifications in the case for and against GLA-SEN.
Having flown on the BE/STK service 2.5 returns including at short notice, I can confirm fares were far from high and loads on all five flights were quite low. I concur that getting 40 people on an E195 doesn’t mean you’ll get 40 on a E145.
Re post 370, Essex is many things but it’s not a poor catchment. Quite the opposite. There will certainly be some takers for a reliable, frequent higher end service and the same will apply for the ABZ route.