SOUTHEND - 4
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Southend had 27369 air transport movements in 1967 and with that the average passenger number per flight was 25. 1967 wasn't the peak year counting air transport movements. The statistics I got goes back to 1961, and among those years 1962 has the highest with 37812 air transport movements. In other words the average number of passengers to/from Southend in 1962 was more than 10 passengers lower than five years later.
Southend indeed for a time enjoyed the distinction of being the UK’s second or third busiest airport, in terms of movements, though this related to the early 1960s, several years before the passenger peak. I believe (though am not certain) that the claim of being second busiest consisted of not just ATMs but the substantial amount of activity generated by the Southend Municipal Flying School which included a large number of training movements by Austers. The Flying School, an anomaly in itself, became unviable due to the growth in commercial traffic particularly at weekends and ceased operations in 1964.
By 1967 there would have been few movements by the Bristol 170 car ferries which carried only 20 passengers at most. In fact the B170s had largely moved to Lydd, and BUAF at Southend had become an all Carvair operation. BUAF Carvairs were carrying up to 55 supplementary passengers although the more common configuration was for 25.
A substantial number of Southend’s ATMs in the 1960s would have been freight. SEN in that period ranked third in the UK for freight tonnage carried.
Channel Airways were the main contributor to the 1967 passenger statistics, with their 83-seat Viscount 812s for which they had contracts with major inclusive tour operators. Channel had the reputation of cramming more seats into their aircraft than any other UK operator. Figures that come to mind are 42 pax in a DC 3, 88 in a DC4, 139 in a Trident 1.
By 1967 there would have been few movements by the Bristol 170 car ferries which carried only 20 passengers at most. In fact the B170s had largely moved to Lydd, and BUAF at Southend had become an all Carvair operation. BUAF Carvairs were carrying up to 55 supplementary passengers although the more common configuration was for 25.
A substantial number of Southend’s ATMs in the 1960s would have been freight. SEN in that period ranked third in the UK for freight tonnage carried.
Channel Airways were the main contributor to the 1967 passenger statistics, with their 83-seat Viscount 812s for which they had contracts with major inclusive tour operators. Channel had the reputation of cramming more seats into their aircraft than any other UK operator. Figures that come to mind are 42 pax in a DC 3, 88 in a DC4, 139 in a Trident 1.
Tagron
I agree with your configuration figures for the Channel Airways aircraft: they really knew how to cram them in!
In 1967 there was a total of 35,549 movements, so around 8,200 non-ATMs, and 50,010 tonnes of freight was handled. The same source for those statistics, which I thought were 'official', show a figure of 692,685 for the total number of passengers in 1967.
It seems that the highest total movement figures were achieved in 1989 in fact, as the figures I have show a total of 113,463 if training overshoots are included. Only 175,306 pax passed through SEN in that year. Perhaps LN-KGL can confirm if those figures match his records.
Freight peaked in 1964 with a throughput of 64,540 tonnes.
I agree with your configuration figures for the Channel Airways aircraft: they really knew how to cram them in!
In 1967 there was a total of 35,549 movements, so around 8,200 non-ATMs, and 50,010 tonnes of freight was handled. The same source for those statistics, which I thought were 'official', show a figure of 692,685 for the total number of passengers in 1967.
It seems that the highest total movement figures were achieved in 1989 in fact, as the figures I have show a total of 113,463 if training overshoots are included. Only 175,306 pax passed through SEN in that year. Perhaps LN-KGL can confirm if those figures match his records.
Freight peaked in 1964 with a throughput of 64,540 tonnes.
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UK CAA only reported 91 926 movements in 1989 and 10 389 of these were classified as commercial movements. The same source also report the total passenger number only to be 99 426 and the cargo to be 10 786 tonnes. The largest passenger destination for SEN in 1989 was Billund, Denmark with 28 639 passengers.
LN-KGL
The 'official' figures I quoted come from a printout SEN sent me in 2010 when I requested the numbers in connection with some PR work I was helping them with. It seems strange if those are completely erroneous and I cannot imagine how they could have come to be so at odds with the CAA figures.
The document is headed 'Annual Statistics for Years 1954 to the present'; 'the present' seeming to be 2003 which is the last year shown. So much for relying on figures obtained from source!
The 'official' figures I quoted come from a printout SEN sent me in 2010 when I requested the numbers in connection with some PR work I was helping them with. It seems strange if those are completely erroneous and I cannot imagine how they could have come to be so at odds with the CAA figures.
The document is headed 'Annual Statistics for Years 1954 to the present'; 'the present' seeming to be 2003 which is the last year shown. So much for relying on figures obtained from source!
Thomson
Has the Thomson charter been pushed back to 1st June start as looking at the Thomson flight page it says no flights available for Sat may 25th. Was looking for half term getaway ? Anyone know
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That's a relief. It shows they are still genuinely interested in going out and attracting new airlines. Perhaps they can start to make use of the Routes Online website too? There are many second and third tier routes which would be viable from SEN, with the right equipment.
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Nighttime at SEN
Now that the first year of operations at the revamped airport has achieved everything and more than a lot of people expected, how is the limit on night flights affecting things.
Has the airport ever got anywhere near the 120 monthly figure (flights/movements I'm not sure which) imposed as part of the regeneration package?
The good old days of BAF operations or an Argonaut awakening most of South Essex with a 2am departure have long gone and will never be repeated, but is there any regular night traffic through SEN these days.
Do the German or Spanish Metroliners still pop up at all sorts of times or is it just the occasional maintenance or positioning flight that disturbs the wee small hours.
Cheers
Has the airport ever got anywhere near the 120 monthly figure (flights/movements I'm not sure which) imposed as part of the regeneration package?
The good old days of BAF operations or an Argonaut awakening most of South Essex with a 2am departure have long gone and will never be repeated, but is there any regular night traffic through SEN these days.
Do the German or Spanish Metroliners still pop up at all sorts of times or is it just the occasional maintenance or positioning flight that disturbs the wee small hours.
Cheers
Viable Routes
No doubt Barling Magna has his own thoughts on this, but I would suggest just a few for starters:
Caen
Groningen
Dijon
Rotterdam (possibly)
I hesitate to suggest any UK domestic destinations as I believe the APD scuppers the chances of most candidates.
The phrase "with the right equipment" would indeed be a crucial element in making any of the above routes a success.
Caen
Groningen
Dijon
Rotterdam (possibly)
I hesitate to suggest any UK domestic destinations as I believe the APD scuppers the chances of most candidates.
The phrase "with the right equipment" would indeed be a crucial element in making any of the above routes a success.
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Expressflight,
With route suggestions such as those you're lost at SEN and you'd be better placed in Oxford/Kiddington and/or Shoreham-By-Sea!
How about such mainstream routes as PAR, FRA, DUS, MUC, CPH, ZRH, MXP, ROM etc?
With route suggestions such as those you're lost at SEN and you'd be better placed in Oxford/Kiddington and/or Shoreham-By-Sea!
How about such mainstream routes as PAR, FRA, DUS, MUC, CPH, ZRH, MXP, ROM etc?
My personal and humble opinion...
The first train from London arrives at 0630 while the last train departs at 2300. This means any departure before about 0800 or arrival before about 2130 has to survive purely on Essex residents. If an airline wishes to base aircraft overnight at SEN, then the potential customer base is limited and such an airline efectively must look to mainstream cities (although not necessarily primary airports if it saves on airport fees)
Until the trains have extended hours, I'm partly with Phileas on this one in terms of which routes will work for now. Any niche cities could only work for aircraft based elsewhere or flights that are a) in the middle of the day and b) far from an airport that currently enjoys good service to London.
The first train from London arrives at 0630 while the last train departs at 2300. This means any departure before about 0800 or arrival before about 2130 has to survive purely on Essex residents. If an airline wishes to base aircraft overnight at SEN, then the potential customer base is limited and such an airline efectively must look to mainstream cities (although not necessarily primary airports if it saves on airport fees)
Until the trains have extended hours, I'm partly with Phileas on this one in terms of which routes will work for now. Any niche cities could only work for aircraft based elsewhere or flights that are a) in the middle of the day and b) far from an airport that currently enjoys good service to London.
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 20th Mar 2013 at 17:35.
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I would go for CGN, NCE, MXP and certainly a stab at some more eastern European destinations. I am also suprised that Malta has not appeared as a two time s week space filler as the Burstin flights of the 80's used to be well populated with aged Southenders for some year round sun. Historically the airport also had links to the Scandic part of Europe (Braathens, Transair, Maersk, Baltic) and some of those thinner routes might work on something smaller than an A319