SOUTHEND - 3 The new beginning
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Quote: "That photo really is Southend, with the little train heading to the pier head, and that chap is indeed on the cycle path; but here is an image of the same palm trees in weather rather more typical of recent summers:"
Don't you mean the little train heading to the airport!
Seriously though, the picture looks really good, must visit.
Pity there's no flights from LHR.
Don't you mean the little train heading to the airport!
Seriously though, the picture looks really good, must visit.
Pity there's no flights from LHR.
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Originally Posted by Fairdealfrank
must visit, pity there are no flights from LHR!
.
About a week ago, I flew with OLT Express out of Southend and was impressed with the experience. Punctual flight, minimal hassle, free snack, leather seats, loads of legroom, no scrum either at boarding or on arrival, and all for 40 pounds one way. Aircraft may be 18 years old, but cabin seemed to look ok.
Unfortunately, the flight had a load factor of about 20%, which presumably is not good for OLT's profit figures.
I know OLT are planning to have a brief stint on SEN-Dresden around Xmas, now have an English language website and are selling tickets for the last week in March, but will they *really* return to SEN from late March onwards, or will they more likely decide by late Feb that they've had enough of abysmal ticket sales and just close their operations at Southend ?
Unfortunately, the flight had a load factor of about 20%, which presumably is not good for OLT's profit figures.
I know OLT are planning to have a brief stint on SEN-Dresden around Xmas, now have an English language website and are selling tickets for the last week in March, but will they *really* return to SEN from late March onwards, or will they more likely decide by late Feb that they've had enough of abysmal ticket sales and just close their operations at Southend ?
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 7th Nov 2012 at 22:54.
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Can't see them coming back, if they do they must have money to burn.
One could argue the reasons why loads are so low and whether using Southend as the London gateway is a help by keeping costs down or a hindrance by maybe keeping passengers away. I am not saying they would do any better by flying into some other London airports but maybe they would if they used London City or maybe even Gatwick except Gatwick would not want this small player at its airport.
One could argue the reasons why loads are so low and whether using Southend as the London gateway is a help by keeping costs down or a hindrance by maybe keeping passengers away. I am not saying they would do any better by flying into some other London airports but maybe they would if they used London City or maybe even Gatwick except Gatwick would not want this small player at its airport.
Last edited by LTNman; 8th Nov 2012 at 05:22.
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Yes, OLT Express operated flights to SEN from Dresden and Saarbrucken for two weeks in late October/early November coinciding with the school holidays in Germany. They used F100s. SEN management wanted nothing to do with this ill-timed start and preferred a springtime commencement. There was no mention of the services on the News pages of the SEN website. Here is a photo by Wayne Alderton of one of the F100s at SEN:
OLT Express are advertising SEN to Saarbrucken and SEN - DRS starting 18th March 2013 and DRS -SEN over the Christmas period. You can see the details here:
OLT Express - Flight schedule - London (SEN)
The lack of marketing by OLT Express was breathtaking; even their website had no English language option (although this has recently been installed). Hoping to establish a route within seven weeks of announcing the idea was, er, ambitious..... The whole story has been a model of German inefficiency. With proper marketing routes to London from Germany via SEN should be successful - shorter flight distance, no worry about the London TMA, rapid transit through the terminal to the train all make for a swift and hassle-free experience.
OLT Express are advertising SEN to Saarbrucken and SEN - DRS starting 18th March 2013 and DRS -SEN over the Christmas period. You can see the details here:
OLT Express - Flight schedule - London (SEN)
The lack of marketing by OLT Express was breathtaking; even their website had no English language option (although this has recently been installed). Hoping to establish a route within seven weeks of announcing the idea was, er, ambitious..... The whole story has been a model of German inefficiency. With proper marketing routes to London from Germany via SEN should be successful - shorter flight distance, no worry about the London TMA, rapid transit through the terminal to the train all make for a swift and hassle-free experience.
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Hi, yep they used an F-100... picture proof here olt_d-aolh_1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! on my Flickr
Really bad marketing - my scant knowledge of German allowed me to suss out prices etc and I NEARLY booked a Dresden trip but didn't in the end. Wish I had have done now!
Really bad marketing - my scant knowledge of German allowed me to suss out prices etc and I NEARLY booked a Dresden trip but didn't in the end. Wish I had have done now!
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Quote: "Are you saying you need a shuttle from LHR to SEN?..If so are you suggesting, that SEN should become Heathrows 3rd runway?"
Ha ha, Ernest, you are the voice of reason!
Wasn't actually thinking of that, just thinking of a quick way to avoid the traffic, but it's an definitely an idea as worthy of consideration as the Fantasy Vanity Project Estuary Airport.
Ha ha, Ernest, you are the voice of reason!
Wasn't actually thinking of that, just thinking of a quick way to avoid the traffic, but it's an definitely an idea as worthy of consideration as the Fantasy Vanity Project Estuary Airport.
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Unfortunately the OLT Express flights from Southend are destined to fail. Southend has turned out to be a great success withnthe likes of EZ, however these German destination are a wrong fit for this airport.
LH operated a daily CRJ 900 out of LHR up until April this year to Dresden, which I travelled on, on a number of occasions. Each time I flew, the flight was at least 75% full. The reason LH pulled the route is due to the lack of premium travellers. However with the sale of BMI to BA, they obviously wanted to use the precious LHR slots into one of their main hubs using larger aircrafts.
If OLT Express were able to fly out of any of LGW, LTN OR STN, they would increse their chances of operating a profitable route 3 fold, with the right timings and marketing, they would have a better chance of filling one of their Fokker 100 aircrafts.
I understand that LH are dropping their LGW / Frankfurt flight, I wonder if they are re considering using that slot for a re commencement of the Dresden service? Maybe using OLT to operate the service on their behalf.
LH operated a daily CRJ 900 out of LHR up until April this year to Dresden, which I travelled on, on a number of occasions. Each time I flew, the flight was at least 75% full. The reason LH pulled the route is due to the lack of premium travellers. However with the sale of BMI to BA, they obviously wanted to use the precious LHR slots into one of their main hubs using larger aircrafts.
If OLT Express were able to fly out of any of LGW, LTN OR STN, they would increse their chances of operating a profitable route 3 fold, with the right timings and marketing, they would have a better chance of filling one of their Fokker 100 aircrafts.
I understand that LH are dropping their LGW / Frankfurt flight, I wonder if they are re considering using that slot for a re commencement of the Dresden service? Maybe using OLT to operate the service on their behalf.
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OLT destinations
With Dresden as a desitination, I think it must be well advertised, and local travel agents encouraged to set up short break holidays there. Maybe most Essex people do not know what to see and do in Dresden, but I like the city very much...for say 3 nights. If the tickets are kept below £200 return I am sure OLT could fill a Saab 2000 during summer months. If the local Germans have wishes to visit London, a FK100 would be suitable too. Saarbrucken is a more difficult case. At Luxembourg the competition to London is high with Luxair and CityJet already busy on the LCY route, BA to LHR, and now the new EZY route to LGW. However, Saarbrucken is one hour's drive from Lux so the city (which is largely populated and surrounded by many smaller towns) may feel pleased to have their own local connection to London. SEN is more than ideal for this market, provided they can keep the ticket price below £150 return to remain competitive. That's my opinion.
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Southend has turned out to be a great success withnthe likes of EZ
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very few "ex-pats" in Luxembourg use Hahn or Charleroi to travel to London. It's more than 75 minutes drive and when the weather is bad...it's a nightmare. I recently used RYR from Hahn to Tallinn, and it was very cheap, very good...but only because there is no other option.
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yet they spend most of the time on the ground
Since the majority of commercial traffic during the day spend about an hour on the ground, your remark is totally inaccurate. Agree with JTSB.
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JTSB
JTSB has posted 8 times and all post are both about SEN and pro-SEN. I wouldn't take much notice of his over-excited juvenile spotter comments.
There as those that think SEN have built a decent airport and comment accordingly, those that have hidden agendas to promote SEN (Expressflight for example) who relentlessly put down any criticism of SEN, and those without knowledge or experience who slavishly follow them, just like young JTSB.
SEN has been successful in attracting EZY. That's good for Southend golfers and Southend holiday home owners travelling to their pad in Spain or Portugal. There is no financial benefit to Southend as a town. The maintenance flights into SEN existed before Stobarts took over. There are no business aviation flights over and above those that all ready took place and flight training at the airport is under pressure (increased fees and lack of space for competing FTO's).
All of this deserves informed comment and discussion but if you don't believe in or support what is happening at SEN then you will not be welcome on this thread. Seems to be this is a classic case of those who have lost the argument thinking that by shouting the loudest they will be proved right.
There as those that think SEN have built a decent airport and comment accordingly, those that have hidden agendas to promote SEN (Expressflight for example) who relentlessly put down any criticism of SEN, and those without knowledge or experience who slavishly follow them, just like young JTSB.
SEN has been successful in attracting EZY. That's good for Southend golfers and Southend holiday home owners travelling to their pad in Spain or Portugal. There is no financial benefit to Southend as a town. The maintenance flights into SEN existed before Stobarts took over. There are no business aviation flights over and above those that all ready took place and flight training at the airport is under pressure (increased fees and lack of space for competing FTO's).
All of this deserves informed comment and discussion but if you don't believe in or support what is happening at SEN then you will not be welcome on this thread. Seems to be this is a classic case of those who have lost the argument thinking that by shouting the loudest they will be proved right.
asdf - I think you're being slightly unfair as to certain individuals. 2 of the most common posters on this thread have been fairly clear as to their agendas - there's nothing wrong with someone saying on this thread "I'm paid by Southend and this is my opinion", or the converse "I work at Luton and here's what I believe". I don't always agree with either side of an opinion, but I genuinely believe that as long as they are reasonably open and avoid sniping at others, we should listen to what they have to say. Listening solely to neutral and ignorant observers makes for a boring and pointless degenerative thread
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 10th Nov 2012 at 19:53.