It had 2 grass runways. I can't remember either when they were closed but it was between 1986 and 1994.
I would imagine when Luton was a 2,000,000 passenger airport and when Southend becomes a 2,000,000 passenger airport there will be a few similarities. The based aircraft will leave nice and early then the place will be dead apart from the odd none based aircraft turning up. Then the wave will return all at similar times. There will be 3 waves of departures and 3 waves of arrivals each day when Southend will appear to be really busy. At other times the place will be dead. Well that’s what happened at Luton anyway.
Luton was fine with GA aircraft even at the busier times until it reached about 4 or 5 million then GA was priced out of Luton as it was no longer welcome.
If it can Southend should encourage all aviation as it helps pay the bills.
Last edited by LTNman; 2nd Oct 2012 at 05:01.