The apron enlargement/rebuild and taxiway reconstruction work is now almost complete and the new apron lighting was switched on for the first time last night.

I know this service exists, I just hope the airport /taxi firm provides staff to assist. I also believe, that if it is well organised, all passengers could be guaranteed a £20 fare to Liverpool Street with Stobart picking up the shortfall. It would be peanuts to them for the handful of people involved. Even better, nobody should have to pay more than £16.20 which I believe is the single rail fare. This would provide real confidence to passengers and a workable solution to the problem.

I should stress the above subsidies should only apply when flights are delayed and not to those due to arrive after 2215.

Word is there are more destinations to come for S18 so maybe watch this space. Due to be announced in the coming months.

Existing or new carrier ?

Supposedly a couple of new carriers, and potentially some easyJet expansion too. As rowly6339 says, we'll hopefully find out in the next few months.

Apparently Stobartair in search of E195 aircraft for Southend operations
 

Their are some talk some more E195 to join Stobart fleet for London Southend by October, we have to wait and see

According to edison investments Wizzair are due to fly into Southend airport.

Nothing appears on Edison Investments' website mentioning Wizz Air by name. They have a piece on Stobart, but it makes no specific mention of the aviation division.

http://www.edisoninvestmentresearch.com/research/report/stobart-group776023/full

"Increasing numbers of airlines from Wizz Air to easyJet and Flybe, are taking on routes from the London airport but the challenge management faces is changing consumer attitudes to travelling from Southend. Given the high-speed rail link to central London (soon to be enhanced by Crossrail) and the short time from disembarking to train platform, this is very achievable."

Further down it says

Investment Summary
 

Edison Investment also states ' Over the long term we believe the group (Stobart) could unlock significant value from it's core assets, especially Southend Airport, which is set to be a major beneficiary of airport capacity constraints in the South East.'

I wouldn't crack the champagne open yet about Wizz Air until it's confirmed, but it's a possible hint.

This article is either leaking positive info (for investors) or repeating rumours. For example here's another, hinting about easyJet's 4th based aircraft...

"One further plane based at Southend by a high utilisation carrier such as easyJet could increase total passengers by 200-250k per year"

As I mentioned two months ago, Stobart have been working very hard to attract Wizzair to SEN, but the airline wanted to wait until all the extra parking bays, and improved taxiways, work was completed. After several meetings, I assume that a deal has been done and could be announced by the autumn. Destinations not known yet, but I suspect only one or two to start with.

The old saying "There's many a slip between cup and lip" comes to mind.

If it did happen it would be more than likely from a non based aircraft. Also Wizz passengers like public transport which would be a problem for a based aircraft.

My apologies, serko, I didn't look far enough.

Spot on I'd say. And why not give SEN a go? Some potential for sure and if it didn't work.... well they're big enough to shrug it off.

At least we know that SEN to Krakow has a good chance of working based on EZY's earlier experience.

Krakow isn't on their network so it won't be there. If it happens, and that's a very big IF because even if advanced talks have happened it may just be to leverage a better deal elsewhere, it will be a few times a week to somewhere like Gdansk, Warsaw or Budapest as overspill that can't be accommodated at Luton.

Don't think you will see Wizz in near future , i.e. Next 18 months.
However I believe there still will be some new operations for next year that may surprise some (in a positive way I hope!).
I would think the pax numbers will be closer to 2m than 1m in 2018 with based aircraft hitting double figures. (Existing and new operators).