SOUTHEND 5
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dubai
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"Compton3bravo" Which ever way you look at it, those figures are desperately disappointing. I cannot see any of the Stobart schedules continuing except for Rennes and Dublin. The easyJet figures on some routes are also what I would have expected. The Dublin figures are truly shocking, just goes to show as I have said before someone at the top doesn“t know a thing about running an airline!
or an airport !
re: the selling off land I think it is more a case of using the land more productively especially to the north of the runway. Not that the existing tennant's will be impressed by the thought. There is also talk of certain SSR helicopter being based there in a new hangar facility with a 24 hour operation. should impress the neighbours and as they are SSR they are exempt from any addition to night movements quota. Although training flights will not be allowed at night
or an airport !
re: the selling off land I think it is more a case of using the land more productively especially to the north of the runway. Not that the existing tennant's will be impressed by the thought. There is also talk of certain SSR helicopter being based there in a new hangar facility with a 24 hour operation. should impress the neighbours and as they are SSR they are exempt from any addition to night movements quota. Although training flights will not be allowed at night
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Essex
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It looks possible that Stobart will get that aircraft back (an ATR42 I believe) from the CityJet franchise, but really a decision on whether or not to continue the DUB route under their own steam would have to be made pretty quick, and as we know it takes time to sort things out in this industry. Even if Stobart did want to operate it again, a lead in time of under a month is risky, although there would be awareness of the route already which is beneficial.
Also enjoyed reading the comments on Flybe's Facebook page suggesting that the route is very popular over the summer which is why the prices are so high! Who are they trying the kid... Either the social media staff don't know what they're talking about, or they are lying through their teeth.
Also enjoyed reading the comments on Flybe's Facebook page suggesting that the route is very popular over the summer which is why the prices are so high! Who are they trying the kid... Either the social media staff don't know what they're talking about, or they are lying through their teeth.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangor (Gwynedd)
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News coming out of Cardiff re Flybe looks like a Stobart aircraft could be freed up from September that could be used for SEN-DUB if the route was resurrected.
Adam
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
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The odd potential new airline flying a 30 or 40 seater daily into Southend will improve the look of the arrival and departure board but will not be doing much for the annual figures. Likewise the loss of Stobart/Flybe routes will not have a massive impact but the impact will be felt in a small drop in numbers this year.
Nothing has really changed since easyjet arrived on the scene at Southend and that is for big growth to get the airport heading towards 2 million it will be easyjet that would provide that growth. At the moment I can't see where else that big growth could come from.
A few more feet on the runway length could have made a difference with maybe Ryanair having a sniff at Southend in the same way as it has a small base at LTN but that is not going to happen.
Nothing has really changed since easyjet arrived on the scene at Southend and that is for big growth to get the airport heading towards 2 million it will be easyjet that would provide that growth. At the moment I can't see where else that big growth could come from.
A few more feet on the runway length could have made a difference with maybe Ryanair having a sniff at Southend in the same way as it has a small base at LTN but that is not going to happen.
Join Date: Mar 2015
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So how long more are Stobart Air going to give SEN? Loads poor, losing money.
You think they'd do the smart thing and pull that base, consolidate the EIR franchise and possibly re-launch a double or triple daily service out of DUB which used to be the bread and butter of SEN.
You think they'd do the smart thing and pull that base, consolidate the EIR franchise and possibly re-launch a double or triple daily service out of DUB which used to be the bread and butter of SEN.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangor (Gwynedd)
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Does anyone know what is going in with the SEN-DUB flights? Wikipedia says they are running until 27th March, Aer Lingus say they are running until 28th March, and Flybe say they are running until 3rd September but anything after 27th March only has the very expensive ticket option available.
Adam
Adam
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangor (Gwynedd)
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As I was trying to book these flights for later on in the year, I messaged Flybe.
Their response:
At which point I pointed out they simply cannot be damn near fully booked on every flight of the year from April onwards, and asked if the flights would be cancelled.
Their respone:
Closure by stealth it is then. It seems Flybe at SEN is becoming 1960s British Rail.....
Adam
Their response:
Unfortunately this is down to availability on this selected route.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Their respone:
Not that I am aware of Adam. Thank you for the congratulations on our Cardiff base I am sorry that I am unable to advise you further
Adam
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: EGLL (formerly at EIDW)
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They really don't give the consumer much credit for intelligence, do they? Their response is pure bolloxology, but they are really not doing a good job of hiding their (as you say) British Rail-style appetite for closure of routes.
Spending all day reading and sending tweets tends not to be a particularly paid role in a customer support team. It's fundamentally a triage type role - identify clearly what someone is saying or wants, find out from an internal team how to respond to it and then communicate the message back - bit like being in a call centre.
The really big commercially important customers usually have corporate trave agencies to fix any foul-ups - twitter is more about Joe Public travelling mainly on less profitable fares. The important thing is therefore to handle customer tweets quickly rather than pandering to a customer's ego. Sorry to say it, but if twitter is your most effective way of talking to an airline then the airline's commercial management team is unlikely to particularly care as to what you have to say.
The really big commercially important customers usually have corporate trave agencies to fix any foul-ups - twitter is more about Joe Public travelling mainly on less profitable fares. The important thing is therefore to handle customer tweets quickly rather than pandering to a customer's ego. Sorry to say it, but if twitter is your most effective way of talking to an airline then the airline's commercial management team is unlikely to particularly care as to what you have to say.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangor (Gwynedd)
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They really don't give the consumer much credit for intelligence, do they? Their response is pure bolloxology, but they are really not doing a good job of hiding their (as you say) British Rail-style appetite for closure of routes.
Spending all day reading and sending tweets tends not to be a particularly paid role in a customer support team. It's fundamentally a triage type role - identify clearly what someone is saying or wants, find out from an internal team how to respond to it and then communicate the message back - bit like being in a call centre.
The really big commercially important customers usually have corporate trave agencies to fix any foul-ups - twitter is more about Joe Public travelling mainly on less profitable fares. The important thing is therefore to handle customer tweets quickly rather than pandering to a customer's ego. Sorry to say it, but if twitter is your most effective way of talking to an airline then the airline's commercial management team is unlikely to particularly care as to what you have to say.
The really big commercially important customers usually have corporate trave agencies to fix any foul-ups - twitter is more about Joe Public travelling mainly on less profitable fares. The important thing is therefore to handle customer tweets quickly rather than pandering to a customer's ego. Sorry to say it, but if twitter is your most effective way of talking to an airline then the airline's commercial management team is unlikely to particularly care as to what you have to say.
Join Date: Jan 2015
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Just an idea, as the Cityjet leased ATR is supposed to be returned at the end of the month wouldn't an AT42 be more suitable for the BE SEN routes capacity wise and could then replace the current AT72 and maybe used for SEN-DUB ops?
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Between the flower pots
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I think we have to accept the unpalatable truth that the Dublin route is unlikely to return. I think it started life at 3 return flights a day and has slowly been reduced since to what looks like nothing for this summer.
If the route was making a profit then it would still be operating but different schedules and different amount of weekly flights have failed to find the right balance.
With Ryanair flying from Stansted anyone starting their journey at Liverpool Street would more than likely be heading for Stansted leaving Southend to pick up local passengers only and it looks like there was not enough of those.
This has to be very bad news as it just adds to the growing list of routes that have failed at Southend over the last 2 or 3 years which must put off prospective airlines from considering Southend.
Stobart Air with the best of intentions might have now done more harm than good.
If the route was making a profit then it would still be operating but different schedules and different amount of weekly flights have failed to find the right balance.
With Ryanair flying from Stansted anyone starting their journey at Liverpool Street would more than likely be heading for Stansted leaving Southend to pick up local passengers only and it looks like there was not enough of those.
This has to be very bad news as it just adds to the growing list of routes that have failed at Southend over the last 2 or 3 years which must put off prospective airlines from considering Southend.
Stobart Air with the best of intentions might have now done more harm than good.
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin
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Most probably bringing about death by stealth, from my point of view it seems like they've definitely shafted Stobart.
Just an idea, as the Cityjet leased ATR is supposed to be returned at the end of the month wouldn't an AT42 be more suitable for the BE SEN routes capacity wise and could then replace the current AT72 and maybe used for SEN-DUB ops?
Join Date: Apr 2013
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I think you've definitely hit the nail on the head with the comments around timing. I think also what contributed to the downfall of the route was that the Aer Lingus branding went away (and so to did the booking a one-ticket flight to the US/Canada for a few months) and the purple effect took hold. The three daily flights were (to the best of my knowledge) reasonably well patronised, and I think the frequency was key as it allowed more flexibility which the new service simply doesn't offer.
Nobody in their wrong mind, let alone their right mind would pay £200 one-way to fly 300 miles in this day and age, especially on a 'budget' airline. For that kind of money, you can do two return day trips LHR-DUB on BA, I know in the scale we're talking about it's a lousy comparison. We all know this is really to force the SEN flyer onto their LCY service and not go to the trouble of operating the route, but I think they have shot themselves in the foot, they will have driven people instead to use FR at STN like Adam will be doing. I wonder if Stobart might be regretting choosing Flybe as their 'partner' now? That's just from a SEN-DUB standpoint.
I think they should just concentrate on the EIR stuff, it seems the most prudent thing to do.
Nobody in their wrong mind, let alone their right mind would pay £200 one-way to fly 300 miles in this day and age, especially on a 'budget' airline. For that kind of money, you can do two return day trips LHR-DUB on BA, I know in the scale we're talking about it's a lousy comparison. We all know this is really to force the SEN flyer onto their LCY service and not go to the trouble of operating the route, but I think they have shot themselves in the foot, they will have driven people instead to use FR at STN like Adam will be doing. I wonder if Stobart might be regretting choosing Flybe as their 'partner' now? That's just from a SEN-DUB standpoint.
I think they should just concentrate on the EIR stuff, it seems the most prudent thing to do.