Southend-2
It was my litany of supposed weaknesses, not Planespeakings! 
And I was merely responding to "Interested Passengers" rosy view at #4273
But wasn't this always going to the challenge - being best London airport in a passenger survey wasn't clearing a very high bar when everywhere else is rammed and your nice, new shiny terminal is empty. The problem was going to be how you scaled that experience when the terminal was at capacity? It's easy to have a two minute walk to the plane when you've got three gates...
SEN's USP to airlines was space and capacity when there wasn't any elsewhere - that's now gone and the competition has the economies of scale of the big boys are looking for market share again
And I was merely responding to "Interested Passengers" rosy view at #4273But wasn't this always going to the challenge - being best London airport in a passenger survey wasn't clearing a very high bar when everywhere else is rammed and your nice, new shiny terminal is empty. The problem was going to be how you scaled that experience when the terminal was at capacity? It's easy to have a two minute walk to the plane when you've got three gates...
SEN's USP to airlines was space and capacity when there wasn't any elsewhere - that's now gone and the competition has the economies of scale of the big boys are looking for market share again
My apologies to Planespeaking for the previous identity error.
So SWBKCB, the terminal was "empty" was it when the surveys were carried out which endowed SEN with 'best London airport' status? I think not and wonder when you last travelled through SEN because when I used it several times last summer (and oh, how long ago that seems now!) it was very busy each time. Three gates at SEN? More than double that I think but don't let that get in the way of your agenda. Yes, of course SEN will struggle to regain momentum and probably the larger airports will be the beneficiaries of the consolidation of routes by the "big boys", but that's a consequence of COVID-19 and not through SEN's inherent shortcomings and surely many other smaller airports will suffer likewise.
So SWBKCB, the terminal was "empty" was it when the surveys were carried out which endowed SEN with 'best London airport' status? I think not and wonder when you last travelled through SEN because when I used it several times last summer (and oh, how long ago that seems now!) it was very busy each time. Three gates at SEN? More than double that I think but don't let that get in the way of your agenda. Yes, of course SEN will struggle to regain momentum and probably the larger airports will be the beneficiaries of the consolidation of routes by the "big boys", but that's a consequence of COVID-19 and not through SEN's inherent shortcomings and surely many other smaller airports will suffer likewise.
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In 2020 SEN was on course to achieve over 2.5 million pax after years of struggling to get there. Despite the opinion of many here, I would maintain that the facilities were absolutely fine in terms of retail, car parking etc. and transport connections were improving with later trains and a coach service that hopefully would have developed.
Easyjet were happy. They’d added a forth aircraft and the trying then axing routes days seemed over.
Then Flybe went and with it the franchise. Virgin Connect never happened. Then Covid19. Then clearly, something else happened that pushed EZY into severing all ties with SEN. Andrew Tinkler tells us that’s down to Warwick Brady.
The airport has a good future. A small but modern terminal, a runway resurfaced to a high spec only 18 months ago. All taxiways upgraded. Everything needed in place for a few years. Even generates a handy chunk of its electricity itself.
So I’m confident the airport will get through this. As for Stobart? Good luck.
Easyjet were happy. They’d added a forth aircraft and the trying then axing routes days seemed over.
Then Flybe went and with it the franchise. Virgin Connect never happened. Then Covid19. Then clearly, something else happened that pushed EZY into severing all ties with SEN. Andrew Tinkler tells us that’s down to Warwick Brady.
The airport has a good future. A small but modern terminal, a runway resurfaced to a high spec only 18 months ago. All taxiways upgraded. Everything needed in place for a few years. Even generates a handy chunk of its electricity itself.
So I’m confident the airport will get through this. As for Stobart? Good luck.
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I’m live locally and have heard a lot of rumours about the airport. There are endless complaints about the noise and the council are being forced to act. There was also talk of a building firm surveying the land for a new town
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Your last sentence suggests you need to brush up on your smoke signals, Carzyhorse.
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No one doubts that Southend had the best London airport passenger award but happy passengers has had no influence on the airlines. If it did Luton would not have any. We can all debate why that is but it won't change the situation. Things could be worse but Ryanair is hanging around so maybe that is a positive sign for the future.
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How about this for getting some positivity racing through your veins!
https://www.southendstandard.co.uk/n...connect-towns/
It’s a great idea! Not sure about their figures. £93m would probably cover the cost of 10 or so trains. Still, nothing wrong with thinking big.
https://www.southendstandard.co.uk/n...connect-towns/
It’s a great idea! Not sure about their figures. £93m would probably cover the cost of 10 or so trains. Still, nothing wrong with thinking big.
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Perhaps using RYR as a barometer & metric for airport planning & optimism has elsewhere in the past proved to be somewhat misplaced...
However one constant is their desire & ability to squeeze more & more cost saving benefits from airports so Stobart/SEN with the loss of EZY certainly have a tiger by the tail now...
However one constant is their desire & ability to squeeze more & more cost saving benefits from airports so Stobart/SEN with the loss of EZY certainly have a tiger by the tail now...
Apologies - I've probably exaggerated a bit for effect, but the same principle applies. Easy to be popular when everything is small, new and shiny, and the competition isn't - but how do you scale it and not end up like all the others? Doesn't matter if it is three or six gates, but double it and your advantages such as a/c to train times etc disappear and there are longer walks or buses, and you're just like everybody else. And then where is SEN's advantage, other than availabilty of slots?
No agenda here, but I've long been puzzled by Stobarts game plan. Where's the money for them to hang on?
No agenda here, but I've long been puzzled by Stobarts game plan. Where's the money for them to hang on?
SWBKCB
Actually the terminal extension Northwards, which would have gone ahead this winter I think but not now, wouldn't have increased the walking distances to any great extent. It would have increased the number of gates to 10 or so and enlarged the baggage reclaim and immigration areas which were becoming pinch points. The retail offering could also have been expanded. All in all it would have brought the terminal more into balance with the number of contact stands so might even have improved the customer experience.
All just a dream now and it will be a long time before it's built, if at all who knows, as the 'new' plan suggests a separate Arrivals building. As far as Stobart itself is concerned the only saving grace is that their cash position is much better but the revenue streams are uncertain and the 25p share price tells the story.
Actually the terminal extension Northwards, which would have gone ahead this winter I think but not now, wouldn't have increased the walking distances to any great extent. It would have increased the number of gates to 10 or so and enlarged the baggage reclaim and immigration areas which were becoming pinch points. The retail offering could also have been expanded. All in all it would have brought the terminal more into balance with the number of contact stands so might even have improved the customer experience.
All just a dream now and it will be a long time before it's built, if at all who knows, as the 'new' plan suggests a separate Arrivals building. As far as Stobart itself is concerned the only saving grace is that their cash position is much better but the revenue streams are uncertain and the 25p share price tells the story.
Last edited by Expressflight; 3rd Sep 2020 at 10:53. Reason: clarification ref arrivals
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Thanks for that...
Very intriguing even given the bad blood between Tinkler & Stobart...
Any offers what "incompetent decision making" from the CEO consists of in this Twitter feed?
Very intriguing even given the bad blood between Tinkler & Stobart...
Any offers what "incompetent decision making" from the CEO consists of in this Twitter feed?
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It would only be speculation. What we do know is that the EZY deal was due to end early 2022 so it would not be unreasonable to assume that - at least - early stage talks regarding the future were taking place. Bearing in mind this may have been pre Covid, Warwick Brady emboldened by the arrival of FR would have wanted to increase orange revenue and EZY were probably unwilling to give any ground that would put them at any disadvantage v FR, you can see that there was a difficult negotiation to be had.
I guess Tinkler is saying that Brady was the wrong man for the job, but he would say that, wouldn’t he....
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I live at one end of the runway and work at the other end and have never heard this rumour but it is right up there with some of the craziest whoppers I have heard.
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There is an Easyjet flight from Southend that is meant to be arriving at 10:15 at Luton on flight number EYZ 9003. Is this the last departure from Southend? It is not showing on flight radar and is not listed anywhere.