Would need to be the 737-3 though as the 800 will be severely load-restricted there.
Is that a fact? Ryanair operate their 737-800's with de-rated engines to reduce maintenance costs. We don't know the performance figures of the Jet2 order. At Luton for the majority of the time, just like easyjet, Ryanair use the 26 intersection for departures which gives a TORA of 1771m. Southend's TORA is only slightly less at 1739m. There is a big difference in the TODA figure with SEN at 1799m while Luton being at the top of a hill is over 3000m but I don't know if that would be a factor in 737-800 operations.