SOUTHEND 5
Join Date: Apr 2013
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Ah the Aer Lingus service was a well-received and used service (to the best of my knowledge). Flybe having burnt their bridges on the SEN-DUB route so that they could save the LCY-DUB route (well, we think so at least), and that's now gone to the wall. So I think it fair to say that Flymaybe are definitely not flavour of the month on LON-DUB services...
Aer Lingus made it viable with ATR 72s (thrice daily sometimes as someone noted), and despite Flybe being able to tout their connections to the US through Aer Lingus, they simply couldn't make it work. A big managerial cock-up, frankly, Stobart should just do the sensible thing and go back to making it an EIR route as soon as possible.
Aer Lingus made it viable with ATR 72s (thrice daily sometimes as someone noted), and despite Flybe being able to tout their connections to the US through Aer Lingus, they simply couldn't make it work. A big managerial cock-up, frankly, Stobart should just do the sensible thing and go back to making it an EIR route as soon as possible.
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Agree with Dontgothere's post. Or maybe EZY fancy poking the RYR hornets nest by offering it!
The route was developing nicely numbers wise (no, I don't know the yields) until the commencement of Winter Season 2014 when the agreement with Flybe was put into operation. There were regularly 3 flights a day in early 2014 and even then (over optimistic) talk of increasing to 4 a day. From the end of October, the flights were decreased to at most 2, and then latterly one or no flights per day, at less useful timings for businessmen than had been in place before.
Here are the monthly CAA figures since inception of the SEN/DUB route:
2012: 0 0 0 0 3497 4253 5168 4762 4425 4653 4578 4155 Total: 35491
2013: 3330 4948 5154 4840 5954 4955 6077 6427 4300 4927 4744 4771 Total:60427
2014: 4038 4446 5063 6063 5913 6909 6427 6449 5180 4939 2840 3332 Total:61599
2015: 1680 1087
They show quite clearly the effect of Flybe involvement with the route from end of October, as opposed to Stobart Air/ Aer Lingus arrangement up until then.
The route was developing nicely numbers wise (no, I don't know the yields) until the commencement of Winter Season 2014 when the agreement with Flybe was put into operation. There were regularly 3 flights a day in early 2014 and even then (over optimistic) talk of increasing to 4 a day. From the end of October, the flights were decreased to at most 2, and then latterly one or no flights per day, at less useful timings for businessmen than had been in place before.
Here are the monthly CAA figures since inception of the SEN/DUB route:
2012: 0 0 0 0 3497 4253 5168 4762 4425 4653 4578 4155 Total: 35491
2013: 3330 4948 5154 4840 5954 4955 6077 6427 4300 4927 4744 4771 Total:60427
2014: 4038 4446 5063 6063 5913 6909 6427 6449 5180 4939 2840 3332 Total:61599
2015: 1680 1087
They show quite clearly the effect of Flybe involvement with the route from end of October, as opposed to Stobart Air/ Aer Lingus arrangement up until then.
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the Aer Lingus service was a well-received and used service
What sort of relationship the 2 have,
1, BE express no interest in SEN at any stage except for a JER route that was pulled. (obviously due to easyJet arrival), then when the Stobart franchise signed EIR axe SEN DUB, enter BE, route canned quickly. One has to make an assumption that SEN DUB was losing money for EIR, otherwise no good reason why BE would have assumed it.
2, BE enter CWL DUB route in competition with their franchise partner Stobart Air who operate in EIR guise on the route.
The sceptic in me is sensing that there is unrest in the camp, would it be that EI and EIR are hatching a plan to launch EIR services ex BHD in competition with BE, if so the whole Stobart Air BE relationship could get tricky.
And in light of the slow up take on SEN services, it is clear from where I am standing which franchise arrangement is working for Stobart Air....
Just putting that out there ... as there seems to be little focus on the launch by BE of a CWL DUB route, which speaks volumes in my view.
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To my mind, I thought that maybe the only reason Flybe went on to the SEN route could have been a contractual obligation. To be honest, sometimes BE's carry on does surprise me, like entering into the CWL-DUB route, what in God's name were they hoping to achieve in doing that? Forgive my cynicism, but I think it will be a dead duck by the new year and what's more they will have strained EIR's position on the route somewhat.
You get the impression that Flybe is doing a good job of shafting Stobart, but then again SK have nobody but themselves to blame. Surely the agreement between BE and SK must have some kind of an exit clause? I think Jack1985 touched on the point that EIR is really SK's best bet for the future.
You get the impression that Flybe is doing a good job of shafting Stobart, but then again SK have nobody but themselves to blame. Surely the agreement between BE and SK must have some kind of an exit clause? I think Jack1985 touched on the point that EIR is really SK's best bet for the future.
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If it turns out to be true about FLYBE stopping the LCY-DUB flights .would SEN be mad to take them back? if FLYBE offered to restart the DUBLIN flights? could STOBARDS do a 2x daily with their own aircraft? if so would these aircraft come from other airports to do the flights?
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Propliner Aviation Magaine
Although there is a thread on this subject in the History and Nostalgia Forum, I hope the Mods will allow this little nostalgia here.
Propliner Aviation Magazine, which was founded by Stephen Piercey and subsequently edited by Tony Merton Jones after Stephen's tragic death has ceased publication after some 30 odd years and 141 quarterly editions.
Covering the current and historic world-wide operation of classic propliners, the magazine rarely had an edition in which Southend did not feature. All it's major operators, Aviation Traders, Air Charter, BKS, Channel Airways,
BAF etc, together with other lesser operator such as Macedonian and Janes were all featured in some depth at various times.
There was also comprehensive coverage of most of the major British propliners such as the Viking, Viscount, Vanguard, Britannia, Bristol Freighter, Ambassador and HS748 and it is interesting to note just how many of these actually visited Southend. For example Britannias of such diverse operators as Canadian Pacific, El Al and Cubana all passed through Aviation Traders on maintenance.
As an aviation historian with an overriding passion for Southend Airport, I have suddenly lost a major source of material covering SENs illustrious past, but even in the final issue there is an article covering the operation of Transair, Swedens Curtiss C46 Commandos which frequently visited Southend in the late 1950s and early 60s.
I would only hope that Southend's illustrious future, and I'm sure it will be, is going to be recorded in a similar way to its past.
Cheers
Propliner Aviation Magazine, which was founded by Stephen Piercey and subsequently edited by Tony Merton Jones after Stephen's tragic death has ceased publication after some 30 odd years and 141 quarterly editions.
Covering the current and historic world-wide operation of classic propliners, the magazine rarely had an edition in which Southend did not feature. All it's major operators, Aviation Traders, Air Charter, BKS, Channel Airways,
BAF etc, together with other lesser operator such as Macedonian and Janes were all featured in some depth at various times.
There was also comprehensive coverage of most of the major British propliners such as the Viking, Viscount, Vanguard, Britannia, Bristol Freighter, Ambassador and HS748 and it is interesting to note just how many of these actually visited Southend. For example Britannias of such diverse operators as Canadian Pacific, El Al and Cubana all passed through Aviation Traders on maintenance.
As an aviation historian with an overriding passion for Southend Airport, I have suddenly lost a major source of material covering SENs illustrious past, but even in the final issue there is an article covering the operation of Transair, Swedens Curtiss C46 Commandos which frequently visited Southend in the late 1950s and early 60s.
I would only hope that Southend's illustrious future, and I'm sure it will be, is going to be recorded in a similar way to its past.
Cheers
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Propliner Aviation Magazine
Those were the days my friend. What I would give for a time machine and hear those squealing C-46 brakes again, or wait for that distance speck to slowly become a Lufthansa Super Connie on Condor charter on those memorable Saturday mornings.
Even more:- going past on the train on the way to London for my first job (age 15) and seeing two gleaming green Aer Lingus Viscount 700's destined for Tradair.
Mustn't go on. As John Wayne once said 'True Men Don't Cry'
Even more:- going past on the train on the way to London for my first job (age 15) and seeing two gleaming green Aer Lingus Viscount 700's destined for Tradair.
Mustn't go on. As John Wayne once said 'True Men Don't Cry'
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Dublin route
There's a report in todays Echo about the axing of the Flybe Dublin route, together with a nice photo of one of Stobart's ATRs
Report ends with a statement from the airport's interim managing director that "We will work to re-establish the Dublin route as part of our ongoing activity to attract more airlines and routes to and from Southend Airport."
This sounds positive, but is it me, or does it seem that every time a statement is made it is by a different top man.
As we only have an interim managing director at the moment, who I have not heard of before, are we having difficulty attracting and keeping a suitable candidate with relevant aviation experience or can we expect another Stobart nominee.
Bring back Alistair Welch, all is forgiven.
Cheers
Report ends with a statement from the airport's interim managing director that "We will work to re-establish the Dublin route as part of our ongoing activity to attract more airlines and routes to and from Southend Airport."
This sounds positive, but is it me, or does it seem that every time a statement is made it is by a different top man.
As we only have an interim managing director at the moment, who I have not heard of before, are we having difficulty attracting and keeping a suitable candidate with relevant aviation experience or can we expect another Stobart nominee.
Bring back Alistair Welch, all is forgiven.
Cheers
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According to CH-Aviation Adria Airways will commence flights between Maribor in Slovenia to London Southend on 1st June 2015 three times weekly using a mixture of Airbus 319 and CRJ9 aircraft.
Very good news for Southend in attracting Adria Airways to the airport.
I hope this works out as Adria Airways have moved from one London airport to the other over the last few years.
Sean
Very good news for Southend in attracting Adria Airways to the airport.
I hope this works out as Adria Airways have moved from one London airport to the other over the last few years.
Sean
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According to CH-Aviation Adria Airways will commence flights between Maribor in Slovenia to London Southend on 1st June 2015 three times weekly using a mixture of Airbus 319 and CRJ9 aircraft.
Very good news for Southend in attracting Adria Airways to the airport.
I hope this works out as Adria Airways have moved from one London airport to the other over the last few years.
Sean
Very good news for Southend in attracting Adria Airways to the airport.
I hope this works out as Adria Airways have moved from one London airport to the other over the last few years.
Sean
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Great News For SEN
I am really pleased that SEN has a new route/operator and I have 100% faith in the management of SEN doing a superb job attracting new airlines, and now Adria Airways. I believe we have seen nothing yet, and I continue to support the efforts of SEN and it would be great to see another airline this year! I really do think we might see another one. Having controlled airspace now is definitely a positive too! What we don't know hey!
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Using a a wing and a prayer comes to mind but time will tell. Surprised the route did not end up at Luton as Luton has a good track record and success rate when it comes to eastern europe.
Ryanair used to link the airport to Stansted but the route only lasted 9 months ending in 2008. Much has changed since then with no doubt more locals now living in the UK. The airport handled 15,000 passengers last year so arriving passengers will think they have arrived at Heathrow when they pass through Southend.
Ryanair used to link the airport to Stansted but the route only lasted 9 months ending in 2008. Much has changed since then with no doubt more locals now living in the UK. The airport handled 15,000 passengers last year so arriving passengers will think they have arrived at Heathrow when they pass through Southend.
Last edited by Pain in the R's; 24th Mar 2015 at 06:25.
Buster the Bear
I wonder if you would be rubbishing the Adria Maribor-London route if LTN had been the destination. Maybe you feel that LTN would be a much more attractive arrival point, although I doubt that in this case. Outbound traffic might enjoy a wider catchment certainly given LTN's location but I gave my thoughts on the viability of MBX-SEN in post #983 last week. I'm certainly not saying it will be a definite success but I think it does stand a chance.
WishesToFly
I admire your optimism but you're looking through different coloured glasses to me at present I'm sorry to say. Would you really say that the current DUB-SEN situation is an example of "a superb job" by Stobart (SEN) management? As ever I look forward to being pleasantly surprised though.
I wonder if you would be rubbishing the Adria Maribor-London route if LTN had been the destination. Maybe you feel that LTN would be a much more attractive arrival point, although I doubt that in this case. Outbound traffic might enjoy a wider catchment certainly given LTN's location but I gave my thoughts on the viability of MBX-SEN in post #983 last week. I'm certainly not saying it will be a definite success but I think it does stand a chance.
WishesToFly
I admire your optimism but you're looking through different coloured glasses to me at present I'm sorry to say. Would you really say that the current DUB-SEN situation is an example of "a superb job" by Stobart (SEN) management? As ever I look forward to being pleasantly surprised though.
cumbrianboy
Stobart effectively own Aer Arann/Stobart Air which operated DUB-SEN under the Aer Lingus Regional brand until October 2014. At that time, presumably with the agreement of Stobart, Flybe undertook to operate the route using an aircraft on which they had capacity ex-DUB to do so. This was a Flybe 'mainline' route (in other words not operated by Stobart Air branded as Flybe) so Flybe controlled its continued existence or otherwise.
It was pointed out on PPRuNe a couple of months ago that Flybe would not have that ex-DUB availability at the end of the winter timetable and that it looked a possibility (later shown to be a certainty) that they might drop DUB-SEN accordingly.
My contention is that Stobart should have been aware of that possibility and considered the impact on SEN's credibility if the DUB-SEN were to close. With time in hand they could have made plans to reinstate the route under Aer Lingus Regional branding of this core route, if I can use that word. Even if they had decided that DUB-SEN no longer featured in their plans Stobart could at least have taken steps to try to ensure it closed in an orderly fashion that did not antagonize passengers or harm the image of SEN. After all Stobart does have a partnership agreement with Flybe.
I other words Stobart had much more control over the situation than would have been the case if, for example, Sky Work Airlines chose to close a route.
Stobart effectively own Aer Arann/Stobart Air which operated DUB-SEN under the Aer Lingus Regional brand until October 2014. At that time, presumably with the agreement of Stobart, Flybe undertook to operate the route using an aircraft on which they had capacity ex-DUB to do so. This was a Flybe 'mainline' route (in other words not operated by Stobart Air branded as Flybe) so Flybe controlled its continued existence or otherwise.
It was pointed out on PPRuNe a couple of months ago that Flybe would not have that ex-DUB availability at the end of the winter timetable and that it looked a possibility (later shown to be a certainty) that they might drop DUB-SEN accordingly.
My contention is that Stobart should have been aware of that possibility and considered the impact on SEN's credibility if the DUB-SEN were to close. With time in hand they could have made plans to reinstate the route under Aer Lingus Regional branding of this core route, if I can use that word. Even if they had decided that DUB-SEN no longer featured in their plans Stobart could at least have taken steps to try to ensure it closed in an orderly fashion that did not antagonize passengers or harm the image of SEN. After all Stobart does have a partnership agreement with Flybe.
I other words Stobart had much more control over the situation than would have been the case if, for example, Sky Work Airlines chose to close a route.