Aer Arann
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Aer Arann's, or possibly more accurately Stobart's plan for Southend is that Aer Arann is to act as a launch airline and see the return of year round scheduled services to Southend. It is rumoured that this will involve two based ATR72s from the summer operating serices to a variety of UK and European destinations.
I understand the dicontent of some, by moving the GWY and WAT-LTN services to Southend, but I realise that Southend is just as, if not a more convenient an airport for London than Luton. Although the Irish population in North London may be significant, I think the patronage which currently use the GWY and WAT services must be significantly broader than just that, as Luton is Aer Arann's destination for London.
Whether or not it would be initially wise to use Southend for these services before the new terminal is ready remains to be seen. But I belive it is equally ridiculous for an airline the size of Aer Arann to serve three different London airports, especially when a major financial backer owns one of them.
By moving to Southend costs will inevitably be significantly reduced. I expect frequencies to be reduced, as passenger numbers will go down initially - but as I see they have been already for this winter. This may be seen by some as a hard price to pay, but I think that the Stobart invesement will provide strong oppurtuties for Aer Arann, and allow it to tap into new markets that could prove very advantageous for the airline.
The deadline of the development of Southend Airport has been the olympics for some time, but I believe that the Olympics may simply be a catalyst for traffic at Southend, and put the airport on the map.
If anyone has seen the prices FlyBE charges for the summer flights to Jersey they would be suprised to see that the majority of flights are sold out, every year. A strong local market exists in Southend by itself, with the wider catchment area plus the huge inbound potential provides great oppurtunities.
I understand the dicontent of some, by moving the GWY and WAT-LTN services to Southend, but I realise that Southend is just as, if not a more convenient an airport for London than Luton. Although the Irish population in North London may be significant, I think the patronage which currently use the GWY and WAT services must be significantly broader than just that, as Luton is Aer Arann's destination for London.
Whether or not it would be initially wise to use Southend for these services before the new terminal is ready remains to be seen. But I belive it is equally ridiculous for an airline the size of Aer Arann to serve three different London airports, especially when a major financial backer owns one of them.
By moving to Southend costs will inevitably be significantly reduced. I expect frequencies to be reduced, as passenger numbers will go down initially - but as I see they have been already for this winter. This may be seen by some as a hard price to pay, but I think that the Stobart invesement will provide strong oppurtuties for Aer Arann, and allow it to tap into new markets that could prove very advantageous for the airline.
The deadline of the development of Southend Airport has been the olympics for some time, but I believe that the Olympics may simply be a catalyst for traffic at Southend, and put the airport on the map.
If anyone has seen the prices FlyBE charges for the summer flights to Jersey they would be suprised to see that the majority of flights are sold out, every year. A strong local market exists in Southend by itself, with the wider catchment area plus the huge inbound potential provides great oppurtunities.
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I fly between WAT - LTN a lot and passengers are not happy about RE moving the route to Southend. From talking to passengers who fly twice weekly at least 50 - 60 of them have said they will be going with FR from DUB and ORK from next March.
Passengers have also asked WAT airport to find another airline to fly the LTN route.
Passengers have also asked WAT airport to find another airline to fly the LTN route.
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"I fly between WAT - LTN a lot and passengers are not happy about RE moving the route to Southend. From talking to passengers who fly twice weekly at least 50 - 60 of them have said they will be going with FR from DUB and ORK from next March."
That does not suprise me at all because Southend is very much an unknown. It sems some creative marketing will be required by Aer Arann, in order to retin business, but once the new terminal is up and running in little under a year, if passengers are given a choice between SEN or STN, they will choose SEN every time for an efficent journey with a much friendlier airline than FR.
That does not suprise me at all because Southend is very much an unknown. It sems some creative marketing will be required by Aer Arann, in order to retin business, but once the new terminal is up and running in little under a year, if passengers are given a choice between SEN or STN, they will choose SEN every time for an efficent journey with a much friendlier airline than FR.
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SEN
As far as im aware no decision has been made by Aer Arann in relation to SEN. Until Aer Arann announce something there is no point in getting excited all spinning of GWY/WAT SEN has not been by Aer Arann.
Most passengers have dont read the papers, alot of passengers did not even know Aer Arann were in Examinership. As a result there was no drop in passengers numbers or forward bookings. I find it hard to believe that passengers have been asking Waterford to find another airline.
If you look in the real world who is there to fill the gap ? - If Cork cant find airlines for routes where they are offering heavy discounts i dont see how Waterford will find one.
Maybe its time to dust off the Euroceltic brand .... I know where they are some F50's going cheap !
5Q
Passengers have also asked WAT airport to find another airline to fly the LTN route.
If you look in the real world who is there to fill the gap ? - If Cork cant find airlines for routes where they are offering heavy discounts i dont see how Waterford will find one.
Maybe its time to dust off the Euroceltic brand .... I know where they are some F50's going cheap !
5Q
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The 5Q - you beat me to it...
There hasn't been any announcement about RE moving flights from Luton to Southend.
Just as 5Q said - don't get carried away until or unless something is said.
RE aren't just going to ditch profitable / successful routes adhoc!
There is absolutely no reason why Luton and Southend couldn't co-exist, leaving GWY & WAT to Luton, Southend could be properly developed with other routes.
There hasn't been any announcement about RE moving flights from Luton to Southend.
Just as 5Q said - don't get carried away until or unless something is said.
RE aren't just going to ditch profitable / successful routes adhoc!
There is absolutely no reason why Luton and Southend couldn't co-exist, leaving GWY & WAT to Luton, Southend could be properly developed with other routes.
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I have to agree with banamanuk/5Q, I tink tht until at least the new terminal is open, routes from SEN/LTN could easily co-exist. However although nothing has been officially said about moving GWY and WAT flights, thye article in ABTN even mentions a specific start date.
' Flights to Galway and Waterford will start on March 28, with more destinations, including those aimed at business travellers, to be scheduled later next year.'
Southend airport owners confirm airline investment and flight plans | ABTN
' Flights to Galway and Waterford will start on March 28, with more destinations, including those aimed at business travellers, to be scheduled later next year.'
Southend airport owners confirm airline investment and flight plans | ABTN
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From talking to passengers who fly twice weekly at least 50 - 60 of them have said they will be going with FR from Dublin and Cork
For passengers travelling to London this is no big deal, but the passengers who live in the Luton side of London (and these are many) may reconsider their options.
There is nothing to stop Aer Arann doing a survey onboard each flight asking if the airport was changed would they use Southend.
My fear is that if Aer Arann moved the services (and with there challenging financials) would an airline like Flybe jump in and fill the gap and capture Aer Arann´s strong links?
Outside of Flybe (who dont have LTN base) i cant see which airline who would consider.
EI-BUD
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Waterford Services
would an airline like Flybe jump in and fill the gap and capture Aer Arann´s strong links?
Waterford is not going to look for another airline to compete against Aer Arann on the London market, its a destination that currently cannot support 2 airlines. In the late 90's both Suckling/ScotAirways operated Luton competing with BRAL/British Airways to Stansted in the end Suckling abandoned the servicedue to weak loads.
If the Aer Arann London route fails it will bring down the other routes as the London route supports the weaker MAN and BHX from Waterford (all operated by the based aircraft)
The one thing that works about Luton from Waterford is that it is not flown from Cork so the only option is Dublin.
Hopefully Aer Arann will make an announcement sooner rater than later.
5Q
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Deja Vu
Some 20 years ago or more I walked along the Docklands - just as LCY opened thinking - perfect for a route into London. When the DUB - LCY route opened - personally I loved it. After years in college the only day I "mitched" was the first day of operations of the DUB-LCY route.
SEN indeed may have many advantages - and I suspect Aer Arann's future is more about Europe than Ireland. SEN will offer some attractive ideas for perhaps AMS, EDI etc etc. However, WAT/GWY is wedded to LTN.
The one thing thing that strikes you when you look outside of Ireland is how small Ireland is. WAT/GWY are niche routes - and with niche comes fragile passenger loads.
It took LCY years to develope. Now Stobarts are wizards at what they do and no doubt they'll bring on SEN. However, RE, has developed a specialised operation. The tie in with EI gives their regional operation a platinum edge. Could this be developed from SEN? Maybe.
But in the meantime - let LTN carry "W" operations between GWY/WAT etc. Keep the expaddies happy and drive on. In time perhaps SEN will be outstanding - the next LCY.
Bye for now
Shamrogue
SEN indeed may have many advantages - and I suspect Aer Arann's future is more about Europe than Ireland. SEN will offer some attractive ideas for perhaps AMS, EDI etc etc. However, WAT/GWY is wedded to LTN.
The one thing thing that strikes you when you look outside of Ireland is how small Ireland is. WAT/GWY are niche routes - and with niche comes fragile passenger loads.
It took LCY years to develope. Now Stobarts are wizards at what they do and no doubt they'll bring on SEN. However, RE, has developed a specialised operation. The tie in with EI gives their regional operation a platinum edge. Could this be developed from SEN? Maybe.
But in the meantime - let LTN carry "W" operations between GWY/WAT etc. Keep the expaddies happy and drive on. In time perhaps SEN will be outstanding - the next LCY.
Bye for now
Shamrogue
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And further to Shamrogue's comments, wouldn't Euro routes by Aer Arann on selected routes from Southend bring higher business traffic and thus yield.
If they (RE) were to do anything on WAT/GWY London, they could add Gatwick under the EI brand. Now that might be worthwhile. Don't mess with the well established and appartently successful Luton routes.
If they (RE) were to do anything on WAT/GWY London, they could add Gatwick under the EI brand. Now that might be worthwhile. Don't mess with the well established and appartently successful Luton routes.
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GWY/WAT are not the routes SEN would naturally be looking to launch with, obviously the major EU capitals and UK cities would show more demand and attract customers.
So you'd expect RE to create a new base at SEN serving the majors first and add niche routes later in development. The GWY/WAT plan may suggest they are getting a virtually free base and don't want to sacrifice other performing RE routes at this delicate stage. Maybe aircraft will be freed up after PSO contracts end in July?
But as previous comments point out all we have is speculation bar the launch date article and some tweets.
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Passenger figures at Galway Airport fall
PASSENGER numbers at Galway Airport fell by 27.6pc in 2009, accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office show. Corrib Airport had a turnover of €4.5m and generated a loss of just under €70,000. Aer Arann is currently the only operator with scheduled flights into Galway. The airport received €960,000 in aid from the Government in 2009, down from around €1.2m the previous year.
So you'd expect RE to create a new base at SEN serving the majors first and add niche routes later in development. The GWY/WAT plan may suggest they are getting a virtually free base and don't want to sacrifice other performing RE routes at this delicate stage. Maybe aircraft will be freed up after PSO contracts end in July?
But as previous comments point out all we have is speculation bar the launch date article and some tweets.
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Passenger figures at Galway Airport fall
PASSENGER numbers at Galway Airport fell by 27.6pc in 2009, accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office show. Corrib Airport had a turnover of €4.5m and generated a loss of just under €70,000. Aer Arann is currently the only operator with scheduled flights into Galway. The airport received €960,000 in aid from the Government in 2009, down from around €1.2m the previous year.
Last edited by sawtooth; 8th Nov 2010 at 09:36.
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I'm fascinated by the WAT-LTN passengers who are intending to start flying from Cork instead. There is no service from Cork to Luton.
Which is interesting in its own way. With a much larger catchment population than Galway or Waterford, Cork passengers seem to have made do with services to Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. All of which makes me wonder just how much the Irish North London community really wants to fly from Luton.
It strikes me that the only major advantage offered by Luton is onward connections.
BTW With aircraft committed to Aer Lingus Regional and PSO routes, where do the aircraft come from to station 2 in Southend?. Waterford and Galway? Or is this the plan for when the PSOs expire?
Which is interesting in its own way. With a much larger catchment population than Galway or Waterford, Cork passengers seem to have made do with services to Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. All of which makes me wonder just how much the Irish North London community really wants to fly from Luton.
It strikes me that the only major advantage offered by Luton is onward connections.
BTW With aircraft committed to Aer Lingus Regional and PSO routes, where do the aircraft come from to station 2 in Southend?. Waterford and Galway? Or is this the plan for when the PSOs expire?
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And another thing the brand name Aer Arran, how long before that cahnges, not really in keeping with the south of england? Southend Air Ferries, Southend Express, Stobart Aviation etc etc anyone?
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And another thing the brand name Aer Arran, how long before that cahnges, not really in keeping with the south of england? Southend Air Ferries, Southend Express, Stobart Aviation etc etc anyone?
At least there is an Aer Arrann to move on with.
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With the state of their finances, surely a rebranding is out of the question?
How much would a name change and rebrand cost..millions i'm sure. Wrong time methinks for that direction.
How much would a name change and rebrand cost..millions i'm sure. Wrong time methinks for that direction.
....and thus to operational costs. Thus further diminishing the returns on the LUTON to Waterford/Galway routes (after the North London-bound pax have defected)
As for rebranding: There will be so little cash available in New Aer Arann that anyone considering a rebrand/relaunch/new name will need their head examining
As for rebranding: There will be so little cash available in New Aer Arann that anyone considering a rebrand/relaunch/new name will need their head examining
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I would reckon an additional flying time of 15-20 minutes then the fact that the passengers will be flying without the protection of Controlled Airspace for the initial/final part of their journey.
With all the £millions being invested, I hope that Southend will have protected Controlled Airspace in place for inaugural service, or at least comprehensive radar availability from EGMC ATC? No doubt ATC are in the process of an Airspace Change Proposal? Consultation going well?
Did you know that insurance premiums for airlines are based upon risk, so flying outside controlled airspace and the additional flight time might eat into any initial incentives offered by Stobart?
With all the £millions being invested, I hope that Southend will have protected Controlled Airspace in place for inaugural service, or at least comprehensive radar availability from EGMC ATC? No doubt ATC are in the process of an Airspace Change Proposal? Consultation going well?
Did you know that insurance premiums for airlines are based upon risk, so flying outside controlled airspace and the additional flight time might eat into any initial incentives offered by Stobart?