Must agree with Expressflight and LTNman regarding transport to and from SEN.
Although Stobarts have done nothing to provide early and late transport links, circumstances do seem to regularly conspire to work against them. Following the disruption to the railway service a couple of weeks ago, today saw a major fire at Rayleigh which caused the suspension of the wretched Abellio Greater Anglia service for most of the day, which, together with the consequent gridlocking of all roads around Rayleigh must have caused a fair number of passengers missing their flights.
As a regular user of the A127, when it flows properly its fine except during rush hours, when those in the know use the back routes through Hullbridge and Ashingdon to get to SEN.
However, it is not only transport which is an issue at SEN. Stobarts do appear to have let themselves be manipulated by Flybe, Ryanair and to some extent by EasyJet, with consolidation rather than expansion being the current vogue. I'm not privy to what goes on behind the scenes but do wonder about the relevant experience of the management. I'd like to think things would be different if Alistair Welch was still at the helm.
Having followed the fortunes of Southend Airport for nigh on 60 years now, the expectations of the last few years seem to be giving way to resignation that its not going to be a major player in the London area airport scene.
Its future is always going to lie with the holiday traveller, but there is enough of them within SEN's catchment area to provide a constant flow of passengers to the right destinations.
The Austrian flights, if they ever materialise, could work given suitable marketing, as they would appeal to the older traveller and there are certainly plenty of affluent retirees in this part of Essex. In winter, skiing flights perhaps. Similarly, Malta has previously been served successfully from SEN and perhaps Nice would be nice.
Interesting times ahead though, lets just get a few more business jets in (much nicer view for passengers over the Thames than the approach to Luton), more aircraft in for maintenance and re-spray, more freight flights and a few more scheduled flights and hey ho, we're on the up again!
Cheers
Southender