Southend-2

[Expressflight]

Originally Posted by N707ZS

Durham Tees Valley has officially joined the Stobart group today.

I thought it was a case of Stobart taking just a small minority interest and it is more a case of it being a management contract.

[SWBKCB]

Yes it is - airport is owned by local government, and Stobart will have a 25% interest in the holding company which will operate the airport on behalf of the LA's.

[Barling Magna]

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...port-operator/

[Barling Magna]

I hope that their new involvement with DTV doesn't lead them to lose focus at Southend.

[willy wombat]

Stand by for the SEN-DTV route announcement!

[stewyb]

Originally Posted by willy wombat

Stand by for the SEN-DTV route announcement!

bet that will be popular!

[tophat27dt]

Originally Posted by stewyb

bet that will be popular!

On PA31 Navajo !

[Robert-Ryan]

It'll do better than Carlisle!

[aurigny72]

Now that the runway grooving is nearly finished does anyone know when the terminal extension is due to start?

[Spanish eyes]

Blackpool used a tent for their terminal extension. It might be going spare now.

[southside bobby]

Southend Skylife Lounge ranked worst by Which? in a survey of 21 pay as you go facilities at 9 airports in the UK.

Highlighted no hot food,no runway view,no sparkling wine,stained carpets dusted with crumbs & the food... a sad looking buffet inc unripe bananas.

Access costs £24 on the day.

[Expressflight]

Originally Posted by southside bobby

Southend Skylife Lounge ranked worst by Which? in a survey of 21 pay as you go facilities at 9 airports in the UK.
Highlighted no hot food,no runway view,no sparkling wine,stained carpets dusted with crumbs & the food... a sad looking buffet inc unripe bananas.
Access costs £24 on the day.

It doesn't seem that long since they announced the Lounge had been given a make-over. Obviously that didn't amount to much, although you wouldn't think it would be difficult to get the basics right.

[DC3 Dave]

Very disappointing. 12 months ago urgent action was promised.

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/160...ou-go-lounges/

But as you can see nothing has changed.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-a4099141.html

[Falcon666]

No runway view— does that really matter, what sort of criteria are Which using these days.
Disappointing in general for food and cleanliness though.
Reading the Belfast thread they got hammered for no showers , spa etc.
Does the sky life lounge have any of these?

[tws123]

Originally Posted by aurigny72

Now that the runway grooving is nearly finished does anyone know when the terminal extension is due to start?

The conditions for the planning application are in the process of being discharged, so potentially work could commence within the next few months.

[aurigny72]

Thanks tws123 for your info. It could get quite busy at peak times in departures and indeed in arrivals once the summer season starts with Ryanair, Easyjet, Loganair, Flybe and Blue Islands etc. I would have thought that the terminal extension would have been started a lot sooner.

[mik3bravo]

Originally Posted by DC3 Dave

Very disappointing. 12 months ago urgent action was promised.

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/160...ou-go-lounges/

But as you can see nothing has changed.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-a4099141.html

Used the lounge very recently. I travel extensively and use lounges throughout the world but I concur with the comments in the articles. Unfortunately, the Southend lounge is below average. Not sure you can call a pancake making machine and steam warmed hot dogs as sufficient hot food selection.

WiFi was congested too, yet there was only approx 10 people sitting in the lounge. No easy open view across the ramp and airfield, felt more like a GP's patient waiting room, with day glow artificial light lamps positioned in corners.

To finish on a positive, staff on front desk and inside the lounge were smiley, cheerful and very polite - staff deserve a thumbs up

SEN airport manage should constructively take onboard the comments (pardon the pun), revisit the situation, reposition it, natural light views of the airfield, review the hot food choices and presentation, it's not good right now, especially if lounge access annual membership card holders are paying premium for lounge access and service levels, which isn't being provided to a reasonable standard.

[Bee Rexit]

When do Ryanair arrive? Runway must be nearing completion as people near me have started noticing the overnight noise due to the works. I haven't, I sleep like a log!

[DC3 Dave]

Ryanair will commence flights one week today, 2nd April.

[tws123]

Had a great flight with EZY the other day into SEN on board an A320 (not the NEO). Was surprised how quick the landing was, especially with a full flight too. Landed on Runway 23 and exited off of Taxiway C, no backtracking needed.