SOUTHEND - 3 The new beginning
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OLTexpress
Stobarts SEN replied to my query as to why the new Gwerman routes are not advertised in UK yet, and the answer was that they are still in discussions with the airline. I find that a bit worrying if the schedules are due to start in a matter of weeks, and people are already buying tickets.
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It isn't the first time an airline has sold tickets for routes where they don't have landing slots, no handling agreement, no overflying rights, ... the list is long of what you need to have ready before the first flight. It is also not any advantage to have the OLT Express in their name with its Polish version going bankrupt. I guess Stobart is thinking about it, as they can end up with unpaid bills.
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Some news on the terminal extension from the latest Consultative Group Minutes (May):
If formally approved, the aim was to commence construction before the end of the year.
The extension would not, of itself, bring increased passengers but would ensure that customer service standards would be maintained as passenger numbers grew and it would provide for more base aircraft. The extended terminal would be slightly smaller than the Southampton Airport terminal building.
If formally approved, the aim was to commence construction before the end of the year.
The extension would not, of itself, bring increased passengers but would ensure that customer service standards would be maintained as passenger numbers grew and it would provide for more base aircraft. The extended terminal would be slightly smaller than the Southampton Airport terminal building.
Saarbrucken route
OLT Express have confirmed that for the new route Southend-Saarbrucken, due to low demand:
- First flight will be on 20th October and not 2nd October
- Last flight will be on 3rd November, after which the route is cancelled
OLT Express also state that the Southend-Dresden route is unaffected, with flights beginning on 15th October
- First flight will be on 20th October and not 2nd October
- Last flight will be on 3rd November, after which the route is cancelled
OLT Express also state that the Southend-Dresden route is unaffected, with flights beginning on 15th October
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 20th Sep 2012 at 13:30.
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Ha! Well, that's not giving the route much of a chance, is it? Especially since it hasn't been agreed by the airport authority yet, nor advertised in the UK, nor is it easily bookable..... Very amateurish.....
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I had a feeling OLT would not continue with the Saarbrucken route, at least October was a bad start up time. It's a "good way" to test the waters, it seems, by setting up your proposed schedules and start to sell the seats, watching how they go. But the public are a bit more astute these days and don't like to risk it until the flights are officially confirmed and advertised in a normal manner. Pity they haven't got 50-seat aircraft which may have stood a better chance because Saarbrucken area has not had a direct London service for more than 30 years.
I think Stobarts are relying on Easyjet to increase their destinations in 2014.
I think Stobarts are relying on Easyjet to increase their destinations in 2014.
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True; Coventry and Manston provide clear examples of this. It's vital that EZY have a successful winter season from SEN - I see no reason why they should not do so.
However, I think SEN will attract more operators in the fullness of time. Stobart are wise to ensure that any such operator proposes viable services. Dresden may work, but Saarbrucken was always going to struggle.
However, I think SEN will attract more operators in the fullness of time. Stobart are wise to ensure that any such operator proposes viable services. Dresden may work, but Saarbrucken was always going to struggle.
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In Alastair Welch's acceptance speech is the following:
We are looking forward to more routes being available from October, with the airport well on course to reach its target of 2 million passengers per year by 2020.
Presumably the new routes he refers to are the OLT Express routes to Dresden and Saarbrucken, although it would be nice to think that other announcements were soon to be made.....
We are looking forward to more routes being available from October, with the airport well on course to reach its target of 2 million passengers per year by 2020.
Presumably the new routes he refers to are the OLT Express routes to Dresden and Saarbrucken, although it would be nice to think that other announcements were soon to be made.....
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OK, thanks. I'd assumed that from the details on the SEN website, but reading it again I can see that was simply an inference. Here's the full information:
On announcing London Southend as the winner, the Chairman of the Judging Panel said “In spite of its limited traffic volume this airport is making a massive effort to become attractive for passengers and airlines. The delivery of five major infrastructure projects in the same year is an outstanding achievement. They present themselves as a compact airport with dedicated customer commitments. The airport’s ability to transform plans to practical results is impressive. In a tough financial environment Southend was able to realize its ambitious plans to create a modern infrastructure, centred on the needs of its work force as well as the passengers and with a high focus on social and environmental considerations. The service orientation of the compact facilities together with the creation of optimum processes will make Southend a jewel in London’s gateway.” London Southend Airport Managing Director Alastair Welch says “We are delighted to have been given this award for the second time in three years – it is a very large vote of confidence from Europe’s largest and most respected airline association. The whole team at London Southend has worked incredibly hard to bring all the new facilities at the airport on line and to meet our customer service commitment of 4 minutes through security and 15 minutes from exiting plane to train (with hand baggage). We are looking forward to more routes being available from October, with the airport well on course to reach its target of 2 million passengers per year by 2020. We’d also like to thank our partners at easyJet and Aer Lingus for the part they are playing in making the airport a jewel in London’s gateway.”
On announcing London Southend as the winner, the Chairman of the Judging Panel said “In spite of its limited traffic volume this airport is making a massive effort to become attractive for passengers and airlines. The delivery of five major infrastructure projects in the same year is an outstanding achievement. They present themselves as a compact airport with dedicated customer commitments. The airport’s ability to transform plans to practical results is impressive. In a tough financial environment Southend was able to realize its ambitious plans to create a modern infrastructure, centred on the needs of its work force as well as the passengers and with a high focus on social and environmental considerations. The service orientation of the compact facilities together with the creation of optimum processes will make Southend a jewel in London’s gateway.” London Southend Airport Managing Director Alastair Welch says “We are delighted to have been given this award for the second time in three years – it is a very large vote of confidence from Europe’s largest and most respected airline association. The whole team at London Southend has worked incredibly hard to bring all the new facilities at the airport on line and to meet our customer service commitment of 4 minutes through security and 15 minutes from exiting plane to train (with hand baggage). We are looking forward to more routes being available from October, with the airport well on course to reach its target of 2 million passengers per year by 2020. We’d also like to thank our partners at easyJet and Aer Lingus for the part they are playing in making the airport a jewel in London’s gateway.”
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Sovereign luxury travel(Majorca/algarve)& citalia(venice) offering 5* family holidays from SEN,another feather in southends cap.word must be getting around that SEN is the place to be.
mikkie - are Sovereign and Citalia just packaging an easyjet flight to Palma / Faro / Venice with their own stock of accommodation and calling it a family holiday, or is it something more than that ?
Both Citalia and Sovereign are owned by TUI Group, so apart from the branding (compared to 'Thomson', Citalia sounds so much better at flogging flights + 7 nights in a B&B in Italy), it's not much different to booking with a branch of Thomson on the High Street.
If Thomas Cook are prepared to put 80,000 customers on Easyjet flights in 2013, why not other agents ? No magic about Southend - it's just an Easyjet flight and for system purposes is no different from Bristol or Glasgow
Both Citalia and Sovereign are owned by TUI Group, so apart from the branding (compared to 'Thomson', Citalia sounds so much better at flogging flights + 7 nights in a B&B in Italy), it's not much different to booking with a branch of Thomson on the High Street.
If Thomas Cook are prepared to put 80,000 customers on Easyjet flights in 2013, why not other agents ? No magic about Southend - it's just an Easyjet flight and for system purposes is no different from Bristol or Glasgow
Numerous LCY diversions piling into SEN at present, due low cloudbase at LCY. Funny that they should divert to, what was it now?, "a field on the East coast" as the LCY management claimed it to be.
It'll be interesting to see how the new terminal copes with the influx, today being the first time since it opened that LCY traffic has visited in any numbers.
It'll be interesting to see how the new terminal copes with the influx, today being the first time since it opened that LCY traffic has visited in any numbers.
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Sovereign luxury travel(Majorca/algarve)& citalia(venice) offering 5* family holidays from SEN
Hotel Illa d'Or. Provided by Sovereign luxury travel.
Aircraft....EasyJet 7423 OB and EasyJet 7424 IB.
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It will indeed be interesting to see how the terminal copes. At the moment (0944) two EZY's are approaching and a BA E190 has just touched down to add to the earlier diversions........ it must be pretty crowded there....
No L749 Constellations this time though.....
No L749 Constellations this time though.....
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Numerous LCY diversions piling into SEN at present, due low cloudbase at LCY. Funny that they should divert to, what was it now?, "a field on the East coast" as the LCY management claimed it to be.
Are the passengers being kept on board?
Nothing is showing on the Southend arrivals board and only 2 diverts showing on the London City arrivals board. So how many diverts have landed?
Last edited by LTNman; 24th Sep 2012 at 09:04.