SOUTHEND - 4
Join Date: Sep 2006
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One of the wonders of modern Europe is Antwerp airport's revolving self-cleaning toilet seat. It also has a superb landside restaurant, and you can be off the plane and outside in five minutes. Was really gutted when Cityjet stopped flying from Manchester - good luck for the route.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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I think that maybe Southend's lack of public transport to London in the early morning and late at night has had an influence on the routes and schedules as both aircraft are based outside the UK. This must add to the airlines costs but in the circumstances was their only option.
Last edited by LTNman; 4th Apr 2014 at 04:46.
Join Date: Jul 2004
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LTNman,
It was Air Europe with their F100 fleet that, I think, first evolved the idea that their core of passengers didn't all start from their MOB(s) and night stopped their aircraft away from their MOB(s) and, for one, the likes of KLM maintain that idea to this day night stopping their feeder aircraft at airports in UK and around Europe.
The costs, per passenger seat across the course of a day, of some 4 hotel rooms, a couple of taxi's and some crew allowances are minimal and can serve to increase passenger numbers if they have judged the market correctly.
Excuse any typo's, I'm one handed awaiting surgery on my broken left arm at the moment.
It was Air Europe with their F100 fleet that, I think, first evolved the idea that their core of passengers didn't all start from their MOB(s) and night stopped their aircraft away from their MOB(s) and, for one, the likes of KLM maintain that idea to this day night stopping their feeder aircraft at airports in UK and around Europe.
The costs, per passenger seat across the course of a day, of some 4 hotel rooms, a couple of taxi's and some crew allowances are minimal and can serve to increase passenger numbers if they have judged the market correctly.
Excuse any typo's, I'm one handed awaiting surgery on my broken left arm at the moment.
Phileas
It was not just Air Europe that went down this route in the 1980s. BA substantially increased its European nightstops around this time. Nowadays a large proportion of the LCY operation works on this principle.
The reasons are clear. The early morning inbounds to London are the strongest traffic flows, and in the case of continental Europe there is the added factor of the time change to take into account.
EasyJet's domestic services to the London area airports are all based on making the first rotation a London inbound though of course they originate from other EZY bases. This did not happen at SEN and this could well be a factor in the relatively disappointing performance of the SEN domestic routes.
Assuming an airline has assessed its market correctly, the decision to start the day from a European nightstop can be a no-brainer.
It was not just Air Europe that went down this route in the 1980s. BA substantially increased its European nightstops around this time. Nowadays a large proportion of the LCY operation works on this principle.
The reasons are clear. The early morning inbounds to London are the strongest traffic flows, and in the case of continental Europe there is the added factor of the time change to take into account.
EasyJet's domestic services to the London area airports are all based on making the first rotation a London inbound though of course they originate from other EZY bases. This did not happen at SEN and this could well be a factor in the relatively disappointing performance of the SEN domestic routes.
Assuming an airline has assessed its market correctly, the decision to start the day from a European nightstop can be a no-brainer.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Antwerp to London
Don't forget Cityjet reduced capacity on the flights between Antwerp and London City since the start of this summer season.
They reduced from two early morning flights to just one. This creates a shortage of capacity at this time of the day. Also tickets are very expensive for this flight and not everyone is willing to pay this premium.
The capacity on the late morning and early afternoon flights remained the same.
For the evening flight to LCY, the capacity has been too small for long time. Flights often full with Cityjet. So extra capacity at this time of the day is welcome.
Only during the weekend capacity might be too big...
Combine this with a bigger focus for Flybe/Stobart on leisure passengers and cheaper tickets. Return tickets for 70 Euro from ANR to SEN is a little cheaper than Easyjet from BRU to LGW (72,70 Euro) and Eurostar from Brussels to London (88 Euro). BA from 122 Euro and Brussels Airlines from 143 Euro...
If they advertise this route well at both ends to make sure people are aware of this service, I think this route might work well for Flybe/Stobart.
Wish them good luck with all new services.
They reduced from two early morning flights to just one. This creates a shortage of capacity at this time of the day. Also tickets are very expensive for this flight and not everyone is willing to pay this premium.
The capacity on the late morning and early afternoon flights remained the same.
For the evening flight to LCY, the capacity has been too small for long time. Flights often full with Cityjet. So extra capacity at this time of the day is welcome.
Only during the weekend capacity might be too big...
Combine this with a bigger focus for Flybe/Stobart on leisure passengers and cheaper tickets. Return tickets for 70 Euro from ANR to SEN is a little cheaper than Easyjet from BRU to LGW (72,70 Euro) and Eurostar from Brussels to London (88 Euro). BA from 122 Euro and Brussels Airlines from 143 Euro...
If they advertise this route well at both ends to make sure people are aware of this service, I think this route might work well for Flybe/Stobart.
Wish them good luck with all new services.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Good luck to Stobart Air/flybe out of Southend. I hope they make all them new routes work along side the current easyjet and Aer Lingus operations.
Off topic; Now If only BA would take a leaf out of your book Tagron and do that for LBA - LHR route!
Off topic; Now If only BA would take a leaf out of your book Tagron and do that for LBA - LHR route!
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I suspect that KLM's costs associated with basing aircraft in the UK overnight are minimal. Certainly, both the flight and cabin crew that operate the fights out of LBA are generally UK-based. Incidentally, it would also appear that quite of their crew that operate out of AMS are from the UK as often KLM flight and cabin crew seem to use these flights.
Join Date: May 2002
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DP world who are developing the london Gateway port near Southend have major operations in Antwerp and Le Havre (near Caen). Maybe that's a reason those destinations have been chosen.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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LE HAVRE
Regarding the Caen service which you say would help DP World, Le Havre has its own airport with twice daily return serices to Lyon so I would have thought if they had been approched (doubtful) they would have preferred le Havre to Caen. Also they are not getting many shipping movements at the moment at London Gateway but early days. As someone who is interested also in shipping they will only take trade away from Felixstowe, Tilbury and Southampton but not Rotterdam.
A SE England - Le Havre route would have a tough time attracting leisure passengers, given the LCY-Deauville route and that Rouen is only about an hour from Paris. Giverny is even nearer Paris than Rouen
A choice of Caen does at least have a clear appeal to those wanting to visit Bayeux and the D Day beaches (70 years this summer). Le Havre is not somewhere most people would choose to hang around for leisure reasons for longer than absolutely necessary
A choice of Caen does at least have a clear appeal to those wanting to visit Bayeux and the D Day beaches (70 years this summer). Le Havre is not somewhere most people would choose to hang around for leisure reasons for longer than absolutely necessary
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Terminal Extension
Does anyone know if the official opening of SEN's extended terminal took place yesterday as forecast on some sites.
If so there seems to be precious little media and forum coverage.
If so there seems to be precious little media and forum coverage.
Join Date: Aug 2012
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It did, per the Southend Airport website
Join Date: Oct 2012
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London Southend Airport in Essex expects to carry two million passengers by 2015 - five years earlier than originally planned.
Passenger numbers were 970,000 in 2013 and are predicted to be 1.3 million this year.
Passenger numbers were 970,000 in 2013 and are predicted to be 1.3 million this year.
Here is the link to the above news item:
BBC News - London Southend Airport sets new passenger target
This is far more optimistic than anything published previously. Is it a mistake, wishful thinking, or do SEN know something that we do not ?
BBC News - London Southend Airport sets new passenger target
This is far more optimistic than anything published previously. Is it a mistake, wishful thinking, or do SEN know something that we do not ?