SOUTHEND - 2
Join Date: May 2011
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Whilst some on here fly the planes, some maintain them. Some work in airports, some manage them. Some are just spotters. But some of us don't work in 'front line' aspects in this industry.
Please no! I can't watch
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: southern spain
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BMI Baby - Stobart
I think I am correct in thinking that BMI Baby has never made a profit so I would suggest it might come very very cheap something like a pound just to get rid of it!
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Earth
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Not enough vulcanised, not enough
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Essex
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EU Jet. Oh yes. Nobody had heard of them whereas BMIbaby is a recognised brand. That was at Manston with a catchment of around 600,000 people within 25 mile radius. Southend has over a million. Southend is 44 miles from central London versus 65 miles from Manston. Southend has its own airport rail terminal with a direct line to London, Manston passengers have to get a taxi from Ramsgate having already taken 20 minutes longer to travel from London. Southend exists in the public perception as London's East End on Sea, Manston exists in the public perception, if at all, as a Spitfire base........
Having said all that, I agree with Syntax that it would still be a worrying development for Stobart to buy BMIbaby. Too big, aircraft too old, too much of a loss maker. Stobart really only need half a dozen jets capable of using SEN (and possibly Carlisle too); and why should Stobart take the risk of alienating easyJet when they've achieved so much in landing them at SEN? Doesn't make sense to me. But then, nobody seeks advice from leaders of big business on matters of common sense, do they?
Having said all that, I agree with Syntax that it would still be a worrying development for Stobart to buy BMIbaby. Too big, aircraft too old, too much of a loss maker. Stobart really only need half a dozen jets capable of using SEN (and possibly Carlisle too); and why should Stobart take the risk of alienating easyJet when they've achieved so much in landing them at SEN? Doesn't make sense to me. But then, nobody seeks advice from leaders of big business on matters of common sense, do they?
Baby could of course be "right-sized" to fit Stobart's needs as part of the deal with Lufty.
For a logistics company (albeit one that already had a freight airline, with a very ageing fleet) to take on some old 737's and start passenger ops, look no further than Jet2.
There are a number of underserved regional airports around the UK at present that would cry out for a small lo-co operation (Southend isn't one of them!)
For a logistics company (albeit one that already had a freight airline, with a very ageing fleet) to take on some old 737's and start passenger ops, look no further than Jet2.
There are a number of underserved regional airports around the UK at present that would cry out for a small lo-co operation (Southend isn't one of them!)
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southend-on-Sea
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If there is any truth in all this, I rather hope that it comes to nothing. From where we stand on the outside, it seems like Stobart's could be likely to kill of the 'Orange' golden egg before it has even hatched. Makes no sense to me at all, unless there is something in the agreement with Easy which ensures that should Stobart-Air take to the skies at a future date, then 'Eddie' cannot enter into any form of competition. We can speculate 'till the cows come home, but I hope that when more info. is in the public domain, that we do not have cause to say 'for they know not what they have done!'
Join Date: Jun 2011
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If there is any truth in all this, I rather hope that it comes to nothing. From where we stand on the outside, it seems like Stobart's could be likely to kill of the 'Orange' golden egg before it has even hatched. Makes no sense to me at all, unless there is something in the agreement with Easy which ensures that should Stobart-Air take to the skies at a future date, then 'Eddie' cannot enter into any form of competition. We can speculate 'till the cows come home, but I hope that when more info. is in the public domain, that we do not have cause to say 'for they know not what they have done!'
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: uk
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Why assume that Stobart would go into competition with a customer, never mind an important new customer?
IF there is any truth in the rumour it will have been discussed by both companies and an arrangement will have been made.
IF there is any truth in the rumour it will have been discussed by both companies and an arrangement will have been made.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Essex
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Essex
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From SEN website:
New London Southend Airport Passenger Terminal Officially Opened By Secretary Of State For Transport
New terminal signals completion of first phase major developments under owners stobart group
Visiting London Southend today, the Secretary of State was met by Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler, COO William Stobart, airport managing director Alastair Welch and easyJet CEO Carolyn McCall OBE. The first passengers to use the new ‘Fly Through’ terminal, named for its convenience and efficiency, landed from Waterford in Ireland on one of the daily Aer Arann Regional services to London Southend. From the 2ndof April, easyJet will start its schedule of daily flights from the airport, with 70 services per week to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Malaga and Mallorca.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP, said:
“This is a huge step forward for London Southend Airport. I would like to congratulate Stobart Group on the excellent facilities, which will make a real difference for passengers.”
New London Southend Airport Passenger Terminal Officially Opened By Secretary Of State For Transport
New terminal signals completion of first phase major developments under owners stobart group
- 15 minutes ‘from plane to train’
- No more than four minutes queuing to security processing
- Fewer than 100 paces from airport train station to terminal entrance
- Daily flights to Ireland with Aer Arann Regional
- From 2 April 2012, 70 flights a week with easyJet
- Further new route announcements coming very soon
Visiting London Southend today, the Secretary of State was met by Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler, COO William Stobart, airport managing director Alastair Welch and easyJet CEO Carolyn McCall OBE. The first passengers to use the new ‘Fly Through’ terminal, named for its convenience and efficiency, landed from Waterford in Ireland on one of the daily Aer Arann Regional services to London Southend. From the 2ndof April, easyJet will start its schedule of daily flights from the airport, with 70 services per week to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Malaga and Mallorca.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP, said:
“This is a huge step forward for London Southend Airport. I would like to congratulate Stobart Group on the excellent facilities, which will make a real difference for passengers.”
Bon Voyage SEN Mk 2
Best wishes for SEN Mk 2 & all who fly from there - it will do very well I'm sure & I for one would much prefer flying from there than any of the larger options.
Let's hope it returns to it's heydays of the 60's, even James Bond & Mr Goldfinger flew from SEN in 1964 !
Let's hope it returns to it's heydays of the 60's, even James Bond & Mr Goldfinger flew from SEN in 1964 !
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Essex
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And in today's Guardian newspaper also:
London Southend airport: flying under the radar (and to the left of the pier) | World news | guardian.co.uk
Exciting days for SEN.
London Southend airport: flying under the radar (and to the left of the pier) | World news | guardian.co.uk
Exciting days for SEN.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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From the Grauniad article:
Always nice to know they're in good hands
As Alastair Welch, the beaming director, put it: "You start with a field, then add a railway station, a terminal building, train up a crew and then the planes start coming. Happy days!"
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Good luck to everyone at Southend - I think you might want all the luck you can get in the present economic climate. Let us see if you can get any NEW routes - i.e. Dublin (not ones transferred from other airports) and hopefully don´t lose any (already lost Galway but not your fault). Last flew there in 1961 Channel Airways DC-3 f/t Ostend.