SOUTHEND 5

[EssexMan61]

Well - I suppose at least we should be thankful that the proposed 12th route to Figari-Corsica never got off the ground - that really might have been the straw that broke the camels back.

Seriously though - if anyone "in the know" at Southend Airport knows what is being done to rescue things - please let us know!!

[tophat27dt]

May passenger figures SEN

Caen 1580
Lyon 1635
Paris-CDG 4027
Perpignan 217
Rennes 4109
Cologne 1712
Milan 2060
Venice 612
Vienna 1422
Amsterdam 15412
Groningen 2461
Faro 12878
Alicante 11701
Barcelona 4791
Ibiza 2534
Mahon 1491
Malaga 9180
Murcia 2233
Palma 11500
Reus 669
Prague 2264
Budapest 1168
Dubrovnik 499
Zadar 244
Jersey 3840

TOTAL 100239

I will leave it to the experts to tell me what the load factor % are.

[tophat27dt]

I think the new FlyBe/Stobart schedules have endured a rotten time recently, with schedules running too late to operate in the evenings, putting passengers into hotels, and departing early the next morning, which affects some of the morning flights and so it goes on again the next day. I understand Stobart have two ATRs based to attempt to keep the schedule running, but JOTA has no back up aircraft when their's goes U/S, because one aircraft is currently in Malta for 6 weeks on overhaul. I am told the second E195 will arrive in August, so hopefully it will be a good one with no regular unserviceabilities. Lightning strikes, weather, crew hours, and airport restrictions cannot be helped, I know, and it's always been my dream since a young ATC assistant at SEN to run my own airline, but it doesn't matter how hard one tries, machines breakdown and staff shortages occur. As they say in new businesses "things can only get better".

[tws123]

Considering the low(ish) frequencies of these new Flybe routes, and the dates on which they started, that's not too bad for a first month.

CGN - 6 weekly (May 1) - 52 flights = 32 pax per flight
LYS - 4 weekly (May 1) - 38 flights = 43 pax per flight
MXP - 5 weekly (May 1) - 44 flights = 47 pax per flight
BUD - 3 weekly (May 4) - 24 flights = 49 pax per flight
VCE - 2 weekly (May 7) - 16 flights = 38 pax per flight
PRG - 5 weekly (May 8) - 34 flights = 67 pax per flight
REU - 3 weekly (May 10) - 20 flights = 33 pax per flight
VIE - 3 weekly (May 10) - 20 flights = 71 pax per flight
DBV - 2 weekly (May 16) - 10 flights = 50 pax per flight
PGN - 2 weekly (May 25) - 4 flights = 54 pax per flight
ZAD - 2 weekly (May 27) - 4 flights = 61 pax per flight

The stats clearly show why REU and CGN were given recent discounts/promotional offers. Hopefully, as these routes become more established we will see some growth, especially leading into the summer. I don't know what the load factors are because of the aircraft alterations, and I haven't taken into consideration any cancelled/diverted flights.

[AirportPlanner1]

ZAD looks good, considering the first flight back would probably have been virtually empty.

I think given the nature of REU it really would have benefitted from going on sale earlier.

[Expressflight]

They ALL would have benefited from going on sale earlier.

[DC3 Dave]

Overall, I would suggest there are some positives that can be taken - to coin a modern idiom - from May's figures. CGN has proven a poor choice, as many of you out there said it would when the route was announced. Somebody in Stobart still believes that SEN is the choice for business users despite all the evidence to the contrary. Short break leisure users, be that stag / hen parties or those after a dose of culture, are definitely the type of customers Stobart should be looking to attract next year.

Let's not forget the 7,000 or so outbound who passed through the terminal in May solely because of the new routes. It's a start. Hopefully they spent a few bob.

I'd like to say something about the delays / cancellations, but I sense a migraine coming on so I'll leave it there.

[tws123]

In addition, the existing routes percentage change on same period last year:

Caen 1580 (+34%)
Rennes 4109 (+20%)
Paris-CDG 4027 (+12%)
Amsterdam 15412 (-20%)
Groningen 2461 (+20%)
Faro 12878 (+28%)
Alicante 11701 (+26%)
Barcelona 4791 (-2%)
Ibiza 2534 (-13%)
Mahon 1491 (+234%)
Malaga 9180 (+5%)
Palma 11500 (+160%)
Jersey 3840 (+39%)

[darren1]

I've used the Zadar service in June and also last week and was surprised at the healthy loads. The flights were however at least two thirds cheaper than the FR alternate from STN or U2 from LTN. They seemed to be the only BE flights to take off and arrive on time despite me worrying about long delays or cancellations.

[mikkie4]

great passenger numbers on the PALMA flights,..maybe its time for PALMA to be all year round .any idea how many of the 11600 passengers flew with VOLOTEA?

[Barling Magna]

The one that still surprises me is the Rennes route. Who would have thought that it would have been so successful? What factors have made this route such a good choice whilst some others have fallen by the wayside?

[01475]

You're right; more people going to Rennes than Paris or Jersey is astounding!

These are the routes that prove you can never know. When I first saw it I never thought it would last.

[compton3bravo]

The area has always been a popular area for UK holidaymakers plus Rennes is a beautiful city like a lot of French towns.

[AirportPlanner1]

Originally Posted by compton3bravo

The area has always been a popular area for UK holidaymakers plus Rennes is a beautiful city like a lot of French towns.

Another big factor is that Rennes has a decent population of its own, a strong tech industry, a big university and isn't really close to anywhere else with a decent London service.

[Expressflight]

mikkie4

I estimate that between 600 and 650 pax would have been carried by Volotea during May. The CAA stats used to differentiate between scheduled and charter pax on SEN-PMI but don't do so any more.


I see that Veuling seem to have abandoned RNS-LGW since May. A bit of a victory for SEN there I would suggest.

[compton3bravo]

Veuling still operate three times weekly to London Gatwick.

[tws123]

Indeed LGW-RNS does still appear to be operating. Although it doesn't appear on the Vueling timetable, it is still bookable.

[Expressflight]

Apologies for the incorrect information regarding RNS-LGW.

[tws123]

Airport snoops on the mobile phones of travellers | This is Money

The phone tracking technology has seen the airport launch routes with EasyJet to Malta and Murcia in Spain, and with Flybe to Manchester, Dublin and Glasgow. It is also in talks with four different airlines to offer routes to Rome, Naples and Croatia.

Glyn Jones, chief executive, said: ‘What I can say to EasyJet is, for example, 100,000 people in a year in our catchment area are flying to Rome.
‘But what I can also say to them is, of the 100,000 people, 70,000 live closer to London Southend than anywhere else. Therefore there is a rational offer – it’s easier for them to choose.’

So maybe EZY's 4th based aircraft will be doing Naples and Rome potentially?

[Expressflight]

Caen Route

Some good news is that SEN-CFR will return for S18.