SOUTHEND 5
OpsSix
Thanks for your correction regarding the McDonalds opening hours; their website is a bit misleading as it just says "open 24 hours" for that branch.
I would say that the RFF is effectively Cat 6 H24, as a minimum 30 minutes notice is required after midnight for the upgrade from 4 to 6 and any easyJet late arrivals will obviously provide much more notice than that.
I spent a couple of days in Cumbria this week and spoke to a number of people about the proposed CAX-SEN service; or definitely CAX-LON as they see it. They all saw it as something which would raise the profile of the area and be good for tourism as many Lakes visitors don't find their way that far north. Having worked with airports and airlines over recent years on route development one thing I have learnt is that some routes you're confident will work sometimes don't and vice versa so I'll reserve judgement on CAX-SEN. I spoke to one person who went to school with Andrew Tinkler and that was an interesting conversation. Will Stobart actually launch CAX-SEN anyway? I'd say that's far from certain and a lot of work on the runway and nav aids is going to be needed before the route could be started.
I see that Jota are advertising for flight deck and cabin crew for their "RJ/Bae 146" fleet expansion so the addition of an RJ looks likely in the near future and I wonder if G-LENM (ex Cello) might be the aircraft. That won't produce much in the way of extra SEN traffic but good to see them growing their business.
Thanks for your correction regarding the McDonalds opening hours; their website is a bit misleading as it just says "open 24 hours" for that branch.
I would say that the RFF is effectively Cat 6 H24, as a minimum 30 minutes notice is required after midnight for the upgrade from 4 to 6 and any easyJet late arrivals will obviously provide much more notice than that.
I spent a couple of days in Cumbria this week and spoke to a number of people about the proposed CAX-SEN service; or definitely CAX-LON as they see it. They all saw it as something which would raise the profile of the area and be good for tourism as many Lakes visitors don't find their way that far north. Having worked with airports and airlines over recent years on route development one thing I have learnt is that some routes you're confident will work sometimes don't and vice versa so I'll reserve judgement on CAX-SEN. I spoke to one person who went to school with Andrew Tinkler and that was an interesting conversation. Will Stobart actually launch CAX-SEN anyway? I'd say that's far from certain and a lot of work on the runway and nav aids is going to be needed before the route could be started.
I see that Jota are advertising for flight deck and cabin crew for their "RJ/Bae 146" fleet expansion so the addition of an RJ looks likely in the near future and I wonder if G-LENM (ex Cello) might be the aircraft. That won't produce much in the way of extra SEN traffic but good to see them growing their business.
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Expressflight: I recall that you used to gaze into your crystal ball at the end of December each year and make some predictions about what might lie in store for SEN over the next twelve months. You don't seem to have done that for a year or so now; maybe it's too difficult to do anymore since I know your circumstances have changed. However, if you felt able to it would be interesting to see your thoughts for 2016 (and beyond) though - is the prevailing doom and gloom justified or is there hope for further growth in the future?
I think the lottery numbers might be the easier of the two to predict to be honest.
Actually I haven't posted any SEN predictions for the past couple of years - is it really that long - largely because I was more involved and thus privy to certain confidential information which made doing so rather unwise. I might have a go this year though, we'll see, but I doubt I'll be predicting anything very startling.
Actually I haven't posted any SEN predictions for the past couple of years - is it really that long - largely because I was more involved and thus privy to certain confidential information which made doing so rather unwise. I might have a go this year though, we'll see, but I doubt I'll be predicting anything very startling.
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I guess it's just trying to see where any future growth can come, assuming that easyJet are no longer greatly interested, faced with effective competition from STN, LGW, LCY and LTN plus the restricted runway affecting the aircraft types which can operate............
I'll be interested to see your new year thoughts as I munch a mince pie, sip a single malt and remember nostalgically Overseas, Tradair, Channel Airways, BAF, National Commuter, Routair etc......... or, maybe more relevantly to future growth, the plethora of continental airlines that used to serve SEN.
I'll be interested to see your new year thoughts as I munch a mince pie, sip a single malt and remember nostalgically Overseas, Tradair, Channel Airways, BAF, National Commuter, Routair etc......... or, maybe more relevantly to future growth, the plethora of continental airlines that used to serve SEN.
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I see Southend is getting quite inventive when it comes to making its arrivals board look more busy than it really is with this offering today.
But much more interesting is their 4 Santa flights today using the Jota 146. I hope everyone has a good day meeting Santa
JOTA1 TOWED FROM/TO HANGAR 0900
Last edited by LTNman; 12th Dec 2015 at 05:08.
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´´SANTA´´ FLIGHTS
Those ´´santa´´ flights you mention seem to be 30 minute fly-arounds probably over the North Sea. If you take those off the movements board very sparse indeed especially when you think Gatwick, Luton and Stansted have many extra flights as the start of the ski season in Europe gets underway.
.... and SEN likewise starts it's winter "ski season" flights today with departures to LYS and GVA. Originally I thought only two Santa flights were planned so there must be very good demand for them to increase that to four and very much enjoyed they will be I'm sure.
Yes, the early winter SEN departures board has been disappointing this year and the lack of announcements so far of any new operators for 2016 is obviously likewise.
Yes, the early winter SEN departures board has been disappointing this year and the lack of announcements so far of any new operators for 2016 is obviously likewise.
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Good to see the Santa flights return, I remember when BAF used to to operate them with Viscounts and extremely popular they were then.
On another point, I see from the Aurigny thread that they will be operating from Guernsey to both Leeds and Norwich next Summer. I have always thought that Guernsey could be a good Summer destination from SEN, perhaps twice a week, given the long standing connection with the Channel Islands from this area.
I would have thought that Southend has a larger catchment area than Norwich and could therefore support at least a similar service.
Is this another opportunity missed?
Southender
On another point, I see from the Aurigny thread that they will be operating from Guernsey to both Leeds and Norwich next Summer. I have always thought that Guernsey could be a good Summer destination from SEN, perhaps twice a week, given the long standing connection with the Channel Islands from this area.
I would have thought that Southend has a larger catchment area than Norwich and could therefore support at least a similar service.
Is this another opportunity missed?
Southender
southender
I would have thought that SEN-GCI would be better served by Flybe/Stobart as Aurugny would perhaps not want to dilute their STN-GCI route. I wonder if the former have considered it.
I would have thought that SEN-GCI would be better served by Flybe/Stobart as Aurugny would perhaps not want to dilute their STN-GCI route. I wonder if the former have considered it.
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Express Flight
I would like to think that the SEN management are considering all possible opportunities to get more passengers through the terminal.
Southender
I would like to think that the SEN management are considering all possible opportunities to get more passengers through the terminal.
Southender
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Magnetic variation has changed enough to make 05/23 closer to the truth than 06/24.Expensive changes involved !
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Yep...the Earth moves around it's magnetic poles...to be more precise it oscillates (some scientists have theorised that the poles actually reverse every few millenia). What this means is that the magnetic alignment changes every year. For SEN it's a 0.15% change but for AUH it's only 0.05%. Just depends where you are geographically!
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As said Aurigny wouldn't want to dilute their STN route which looking at the figures does okay pax wise, and NWI is done with premier holidays which helps for them. So can't really see SEN happening for them.
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Express Flight
I would like to think that the SEN management are considering all possible opportunities to get more passengers through the terminal.
Southender
I would like to think that the SEN management are considering all possible opportunities to get more passengers through the terminal.
Southender
The problem for Southend is that to be honest it doesn't have a good track record since it was relaunched as London Southend in keeping routes. Even Easyjet seems to have dropped quite a few of its routes out of Southend before launching new ones.
So a few years down the line we end up with an airport where its last departure of the day is at 11.40 when taking away its Santa flights. That isn't going to inspire new airlines with much confidence when there are other London Airports that are proven as successful because they are all heaving.
The clear advantages of Southend are lost if airlines think that passengers would rather use an airport they are happy to complain about.
Last edited by LTNman; 12th Dec 2015 at 20:04.
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I think by this point in the precedings we are all aware that at times this winter Southends offerings are pretty disappointing, however this schedule has been out for 10 months or so I really don't think we need daily departure board updates to make the point!
On a more general note, Southend obviously has a problem at the moment, and quite a serious one of that, there is no doubt that additional business must be found to secure the airport into the medium and long term! However despite this I find c3b and others comparisons so Luton and Stansted kinda pointless. The departure board of Southend is always going to look very different to the other 2, of course in many instances they are pitching for the same business however this is where the comparison ends. Stansted
and Luton are huge airport machines and conversely need a larger slice of the pie to survive and thrive, however the good news (and boy does Southend need good news) is that it will not take much to turn the fortunes of Southend around. An airline signing to base a couple of airframes at a site would not make much difference to Luton and Stansted however if that was at Southend it could transform the balance sheet and in turn the airports prospects. Southend must, and I think will, find its niche. Who for example would have predicted Amerstdam at 3 daily, carrying 20k + pax a month, a couple of years ago, not me!
My rather long winded point is hang in there and I think the rather small operation that Southend will always be can be a success. It may take time, but after such a huge investment stobart have no option I would have thought than to give it time. Lest we not forget that Southend is only a few years into its renewed operation, if Southend is in the same position in 4/5 years it may be time to look again!
(LTNman, not sure if your point was in jest regarding Jota tug, however for info I believe this to be quirk of the operation departments i.t system interaction with the electronic calendar rather than a genuine attempt to make the departure board look more impressive)
On a more general note, Southend obviously has a problem at the moment, and quite a serious one of that, there is no doubt that additional business must be found to secure the airport into the medium and long term! However despite this I find c3b and others comparisons so Luton and Stansted kinda pointless. The departure board of Southend is always going to look very different to the other 2, of course in many instances they are pitching for the same business however this is where the comparison ends. Stansted
and Luton are huge airport machines and conversely need a larger slice of the pie to survive and thrive, however the good news (and boy does Southend need good news) is that it will not take much to turn the fortunes of Southend around. An airline signing to base a couple of airframes at a site would not make much difference to Luton and Stansted however if that was at Southend it could transform the balance sheet and in turn the airports prospects. Southend must, and I think will, find its niche. Who for example would have predicted Amerstdam at 3 daily, carrying 20k + pax a month, a couple of years ago, not me!
My rather long winded point is hang in there and I think the rather small operation that Southend will always be can be a success. It may take time, but after such a huge investment stobart have no option I would have thought than to give it time. Lest we not forget that Southend is only a few years into its renewed operation, if Southend is in the same position in 4/5 years it may be time to look again!
(LTNman, not sure if your point was in jest regarding Jota tug, however for info I believe this to be quirk of the operation departments i.t system interaction with the electronic calendar rather than a genuine attempt to make the departure board look more impressive)