So is it an open secret that the aircraft will be the ex-Flybe 195s?

Lets hope GRAN CANARIA comes back ,much better than using STANSTED

Three of flyBE's 195s are being returned to the lessor in the third quarter of this year - so some have put two and two together. Whether that makes four or five, we shall have to wait to see.

JOTA would be the obvious ACMI operator. They are seeking more Avro RJs according to the Airliner World article this month.

Can't remember where, but I'm sure I read somewhere an actual Stobart post that the routes will be operated by Embraer 195 aircraft. I believe it was someone who was about to make a booking asking them what the plane would be and that was the answer given, so that should be the eventual plane when it becomes available. Shame I can't remember where I saw it.

Yes E195s will be added to the AOC and the routes will be operated by those aircraft, that much has been confirmed, but as that won't happen until September it looks very much as if ACMI capacity will have to be brought in initially.

I don't believe the above falls into the "speculation and wish list" category but apologies if some might think otherwise.

January Passenger stats
 

I noticed on the CAA Airport Data 2017/01, there are no passenger figures listed for SEN. "Jan 2017 tables are now complete". So, does this mean our figures will be added later, or "too late mate"? Somebody in the office forgot to put a stamp on the envelope?

Expressflight, excuse me for being picky but where has it been confirmed that the Flybe aircraft are going to Stobart?

Sorry to be adversarial but I can't remember being so unsure what aircraft would operate what routes so close to launch before.

JOTA - these routes would take their two aircraft and more surely- plenty of RJs parked up at Cranfield but none looking ready to go anywhere. And would they desert all their ACMI capacity to fly Stobart schedules for a limited time. They'd want money to do that. Oh well just wondered if we knew.

runway 30

I don't think you're being picky at all but I didn't say the aircraft will come from Flybe, that was a Barling Magna suggestion. I only said I know that "E195s will be added to the AOC" but I don't know if they are being acquired from Embraer or elsewhere.

22/04

I agree with you that it does seem late in the day for that information to come out. The seating plan on the Flybe website this morning shows a 92-seat, four-abreast layout so that's neither an E195 or RJ.

Besides the 'Spotters' does anybody actually care what aircraft will be operating a route on any given date?

I recall when I travelled with Cathay HKG/CEB/HKG, it was supposed to be an A340 outward and an A330 on the return, it transpired to be an A330 on the outward and an A340 on the return, did I lose any sleep over it, did I go nitpicking on a forum or few, perhaps an airport website? ... Nope, I settled back in to my seat and enjoyed my 3 course dinner with a beer or two!

flyBE's Q3 trading report published at the end of January confirms they will be returning six airframes to the lessors during the second half of 2017. Three are said to be E-195s 'EL, 'EM and 'EN according to the flyBE PpRuNe thread. So, as I said above, some folk have put two and two together and assumed that those three will be going to Stobart. Could well be just coincidence though.

A 92-seat layout sounds more like an EMB-190 to me.

I certainly of care. I like to think I travel with well run outfits with a good safety record- so for example I wouldn't fly AF at present. Aircraft type may be less important.

At present Stobart's attempt to me smacks of being a shambolic act of desperation to get SEN working. Whilst not concerned about safety I would be concerned about for example likelihood of being on time and having sufficient crew and access to spare aircraft if needed. I May be old fashioned though.

Express, profuse apologies, I thought you had picked up the idea the 195s were coming from Flybe but I misread your post.

URGH!!!!!!!

So because Stobart are planning to lease in some ACMI capacity for the start of operations they are a badly run outfit? Jesus!

BA do it, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Jet2, Ryanair - they all do it. Are they badly run?

Just because you have not seen a press release that says 'We are going to lease in an aircraft from X and another aircraft from Y for 3 months, they will operate to ...." does NOT make a badly run airline. It also does NOT mean that the management don't know what they're doing and that it is all a shambles, it just means they have not told the public what their plans are, and why should they, there is no need to do it.

It makes NO difference who operates the aircraft so long as they are a EU operator and operate it safely. You are being sold a ticket to get you from A to B safely. No where does it state that it has to be on a specific aircraft operated by a specific company.

The airline will tell you on board the aircraft who the operator is, but for 99% of the public they don't care, or even listen - I have know this from first hand experience every day!

Now, it HAS been stated on here that Stobart will operate their own E195s on their own AOC from late 2017, until then it will be ACMI operators. Who the ACMI operator is is irrelevant. That is known fact and has been communicated internally by Stobart. It has bot been publicly announced because there is absolutely no need to to do it. None whatsoever.

Rant over ...

And isn't that the problem? You complain and moan that you want Southend to do well, but then when they announce a fantastic set of new routes, you then say O but I won't book them as I think the Stansted flights will probably do better?

Is it just me that finds this constant negativity and criticism soul destroying ...

For the record, the 2 leased 195's will supplement a fleet of 17 aircraft of their own (they are not the entire fleet), and Stobart Air / Aer Arann has been operating continuously as the same company since the 1970's .... and is going form strength to strength, is profitable and has reserves....

I have to concede that cumbrianboy and admit that one who has passed though LTN,LGW and LHR recently that slipped under my radar as we don't see much of them there.

22/04

Your admitted ignorance of the facts regarding the size and makeup of the current Stobart Air fleet is surprising but I suppose it does excuse to some extent the content of your previous posts.

Let's be clear on this. If EZY or BA or any other highly reputable airline calls in an ECMI operator to cater for seasonal demand, maintenance requirements or delayed deliveries of new aircraft (as is the case with Stobart) nobody questions this for a moment as it is normal procedure. I assume that now you are aware of the facts regarding Stobart you will withdraw your previous remarks implying that the reliability of their SEN operations could be compromised by such a procedure.

I would think setting up the routes whilst sourcing suitable aircraft and employees was the only sensible way Stobart could proceed once they'd made their decision. Not a problem in my view, providing they've made contingency to cover any likely issues in getting operations underway at the beginning of May, and I haven't seen or heard anything that would suggest otherwise.

This is a huge deal for Stobart and the airport. To be fair 11 / 12 new routes would be a big deal for anyone. There's no going back now, so let's hope for success.

Expressflight - previous comments retracted.

Stobart/Flybe
 

Just to correct one aspect and as pointed out a month or so ago on either the BHX or Flybe thread the seat-map is 88 seats (no row 13) and matches the Embraer 175 that Flybe use.

Flybe have 11 175's of which at one point in May were going to be based as follows: - 6 at BHX and 3 at Manchester and two are unallocated. 2+2=5

However they are now allocated 6 BHX 4 MAN & 1 DSA (was 2 x 195's now 1+1), this should end any idea that it is the Flybe 175 and the 88 seats is just a coincidence.

However BHX loses its 195 in May way before the three end of lease aircraft and that might have some significance?

Pete