SOUTHEND 5
Join Date: Jul 2002
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The short term aim should be to keep all the routes that Stobart already operates.
For the mid term to long term with the 98 seat Superjet in their fleet it opens up new possibilities for charter/IT flights with companies that would like a smaller capacity aircraft and maybe the odd new scheduled route as they dip their toes in the Southend waters.
For the mid term to long term with the 98 seat Superjet in their fleet it opens up new possibilities for charter/IT flights with companies that would like a smaller capacity aircraft and maybe the odd new scheduled route as they dip their toes in the Southend waters.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Not much happening on the airline front at SEN at the moment (apart from the regular Cityjet diversions) but to get our thread back near the top of the forum I'll report a couple of interesting GA visitors recently.
According to the Echo newspaper Chinese American flying enthusiast and entrepreneur Zhang Bo called at SEN at the weekend in his highly visually decorated Socata TBM700 in what the paper describes as the first global journey from China in a light aircraft.
Then today I popped into the airport as i was passing and sharing the GA apron with a couple of Metroliners and a King Air was the stunning STOL UC-1 Twin Bee amphibian N9512U in all it's yellow and green glory. In all my 60+ years of following aviation I have never before seen one of these and possibly SEN would have been the last place I would have expected to. On checking the FAA website it appears that N9512U is a de-registered aircraft which has been on the Swiss register for some years now and has been advertised on the internet for sale. Perhaps it was on it's way back to the USA. Where was my camera when I needed it although I did get a shot on my mobile. Really made my day!
According to the Echo newspaper Chinese American flying enthusiast and entrepreneur Zhang Bo called at SEN at the weekend in his highly visually decorated Socata TBM700 in what the paper describes as the first global journey from China in a light aircraft.
Then today I popped into the airport as i was passing and sharing the GA apron with a couple of Metroliners and a King Air was the stunning STOL UC-1 Twin Bee amphibian N9512U in all it's yellow and green glory. In all my 60+ years of following aviation I have never before seen one of these and possibly SEN would have been the last place I would have expected to. On checking the FAA website it appears that N9512U is a de-registered aircraft which has been on the Swiss register for some years now and has been advertised on the internet for sale. Perhaps it was on it's way back to the USA. Where was my camera when I needed it although I did get a shot on my mobile. Really made my day!
Join Date: Jul 2015
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I'd leave Flybe out in the cold for a while.
Join Date: May 2014
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I think it is a little premature to have "given up on that pipe dream". I have heard nothing to suggest that the Cityjet take over of Stobart's airline is anything other than proceeding. Major takeovers/mergers do not happen overnight. I suggest that it is just taking a little longer than expected to finalise matters and things will go ahead as planned.
Join Date: Apr 2016
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Jet2
Snippet in the 'i' newspaper yesterday.
"Jet 2 is recruiting almost 1,000 flying staff and engineers and acquiring 30 new 737-800's. Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy said: 'We have exciting plans to expand the number of destinations we fly to, as well as the number of UK bases we fly from' "
The 737-800's are supposed to replace their 737-300's, but that doesn't equate with planned route and base expansion. I wonder if they plan to utilize the smaller aircraft in their expansion plans, and wonder if SEN may be in with a shout.
"Jet 2 is recruiting almost 1,000 flying staff and engineers and acquiring 30 new 737-800's. Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy said: 'We have exciting plans to expand the number of destinations we fly to, as well as the number of UK bases we fly from' "
The 737-800's are supposed to replace their 737-300's, but that doesn't equate with planned route and base expansion. I wonder if they plan to utilize the smaller aircraft in their expansion plans, and wonder if SEN may be in with a shout.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Obviously the 737-300s won't be staying in the Jet2 fleet for long and will eventually have to be replaced so why would they open a base at SEN based on this aircraft when they will be gone at some point, what happens after that as the 737-800 can't fly from SEN without a payload restriction so I can't see them opening up a base at SEN it's just wishful thinking same could be said about Jet2 at my local airport SOU.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Would need to be the 737-3 though as the 800 will be severely load-restricted there.
Last edited by LTNman; 3rd Sep 2016 at 07:48.
I think required landing distance is the deal breaker for 738 operations at SEN. I looked at the performance charts some time ago and it looked as if it was not possible to fly an economical payload into SEN. Earlier this year Luxair operated two full rugby charter flights from SEN to Pau but significantly the inbound pax had been flown into LTN.
I cannot really see Jet2 setting up a base at SEN with 733s as they will surely be retired within 3 or 4 years I would think. The 752 could operate effectively from SEN, although this has never happened yet, and although that would be very nice to see I doubt that Jet2 will do so either.
I cannot really see Jet2 setting up a base at SEN with 733s as they will surely be retired within 3 or 4 years I would think. The 752 could operate effectively from SEN, although this has never happened yet, and although that would be very nice to see I doubt that Jet2 will do so either.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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All wishful thinking, I fear. August, with its rumoured announcement of new routes, has come and gone. The waiting continues. Is SEN making an operating profit for Stobart, I wonder? They certainly have big debts to service.
August has only just gone and if the rumour was connected to the Cityjet/Stobart Air takeover, as seems possible, an announcement on that deal seems imminent.
As I said I don't think a Jet2 base for SEN is remotely likely but as it's not entirely impossible its discussion here seems excusable.
As I said I don't think a Jet2 base for SEN is remotely likely but as it's not entirely impossible its discussion here seems excusable.
Join Date: Apr 2016
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So we have an airline in Jet2 with around 40 aircraft able to operate from Southend. It seems reasonable that the new UK bases they talk about will be pushing the company's presence ever further south. They mainly shift people to the sunshine destinations, having hopefully sold them a holiday, and that seems to have become (AMS excepted) SEN's one success story. So, to me, there would be every reason for the airport's management to be trying really hard to persuade Jet2 to come. They are a good fit.
The point I'm trying to make is that if Jet2 are going to open bases in the south, are they just going to be yet another airline that rejects SEN's advances? Advances that surely have been made.
You can almost smell the cynicism coming from these pages sometimes. And with no progress made week after week, month after month it's understandable. But if that target of 2,500,000 pax pa in 18 months time is to be met, the airport is going to have to shock the pants off us all some time soon.
The point I'm trying to make is that if Jet2 are going to open bases in the south, are they just going to be yet another airline that rejects SEN's advances? Advances that surely have been made.
You can almost smell the cynicism coming from these pages sometimes. And with no progress made week after week, month after month it's understandable. But if that target of 2,500,000 pax pa in 18 months time is to be met, the airport is going to have to shock the pants off us all some time soon.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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So we have an airline in Jet2 with around 40 aircraft able to operate from Southend.
Southend's challenge is that it is not seen as a successful airport. This could be down to no more than airlines looking at its passenger figures but it could put off many airlines unless there were no alternatives to the London market.
The problem facing Southend is that other airports always seem to squeeze a bit more capacity out of the hat when needed.
Last edited by LTNman; 4th Sep 2016 at 07:10.
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There is a persistent strong rumour that Jet2 are looking at Stansted.
Bearing in mind they are already at MAGs other airports it's highly likely that if they do fancy breaking Ito the southern market then Stansted is likely to be their first try
Bearing in mind they are already at MAGs other airports it's highly likely that if they do fancy breaking Ito the southern market then Stansted is likely to be their first try
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Well it won't be Luton that is for sure with its ongoing capacity issues that will last another year. Gatwick would struggle to offer enough slots at the right time. Heathrow is full and in the wrong market and too expensive. That leaves only really Stansted as Southend would not be an ideal airport for operational reasons.
Road Improvement
Work starts next Monday on improving road access to SEN.
This long needed improvement will involve building a new traffic lane from Harp House roundabout to the existing access road serving the terminal and car parks. This should overcome the current problem of airport traffic getting held up leaving the roundabout by vehicles accessing the adjacent retail park and McDonalds.
I haven't been able to find detailed plans for this but I assume that the new lane will be across the current public area between the Holiday Inn and existing road.
This long needed improvement will involve building a new traffic lane from Harp House roundabout to the existing access road serving the terminal and car parks. This should overcome the current problem of airport traffic getting held up leaving the roundabout by vehicles accessing the adjacent retail park and McDonalds.
I haven't been able to find detailed plans for this but I assume that the new lane will be across the current public area between the Holiday Inn and existing road.