Those of us that pointed out the error in Stobart's strategy in bringing EZY to SEN were roundly booed 3 years ago. EZY stifle competition and demand expensive sweetheart deals to relocate their aircraft to non core airports.
If Easyjet had not set up a base at Southend the airport would be a different place now and that is for sure. The departure board would be even more empty and the airport would be lucky to be handling 200,000 passengers per year.
Easyjet don't stifle competition they bring recognition that an airport can be successful and a place that other airlines might want to operate from. Easyjet transformed Luton from an airport that was being used by almost half of the amount of passengers in 1995 than passed through the airport in its peak in the early 70's before Courtline went bust.
S16 new operators is essentially dead and buried, perhaps the slot issue may reap some rewards.
That is not the case. Sorry to harp on about LTN again but this week 2 new airlines to Luton have announced they are starting flights to the Bedfordshire outpost so there is time yet for Southend to pick up something for 2016. Saying that in my humble opinion SEN will struggle to attract new airlines for a multitude of reasons that has nothing to do the the management of the airport.