Anybody who holds confidential information may feel uncomfortable, but the rest of us are free to speculate all we like - whether there's any purpose in it is another matter. For me, I think it's fascinating that Mr "Wait and See" can hardly seem to contain himself.

There's nothing that I can say will change anyone's plans a jot, so with respect to those feeling jittery, I am aware of a UK airline that knows exactly how many seats Stobart have sold on their routes and how much revenue those sales have generated. Indeed, this airline is aware of every seat and ancillary purchase at the time it's made.

Fascinating! Can't guess who it could be. I can think of good reasons why it wouldn't be any of the people I can think of!

BA... not in line with their way of operating; slots now available at places that are.

Jet2... already up the road.

BMI, Eastern, Loganair... not their kind of airport, not their size of base, not their number of destinations, no potential for their types of destinations (this one less applicable to BMI, but still enough so).

CityJet; would be a hilariously ironic option, but not British and giving up on that sort of thing.

FlyBe... not likely; not expanding.

Other holiday companies... too big a base and they're unlikely to want to fly suitable aircraft for it.

So Jet2 after all? Or someone new? Or the tremendous coup of someone that's at LCY?

FlightRadar 24
 

Did anyone apart from me notice FR24's spectacular offering yesterday morning? An American Airlines A330 from Philadelphia landing at SEN at 07:20. Now, that would be worth seeing!!

I have had another thought (sorry). This 4 based aircraft rumour doesn't gel with the lower growth numbers Stobart have been putting out there for 2018. (they're now talking 1.5 million) Bearing in mind that Stobart would prefer to operate aircraft for others (that's my view), is this all about a change of roles between them and Flybe. That is, the existing Stobart routes will handed over to Flybe, with Stobart an ACMI operator?

In my view DC3 Dave has been & remains one of the "free thinkers" on this thread..

Would certainly be a shock, given the growth they've put into STN. That being said STN-SEN is a similar distance to BHX-EMA and MAN-LBA, which seems to work.

They are getting 14 new B738NG's this winter, so could they be hanging on to some old 733's a bit longer?

Someone I know who works at the airport said to me about a month or so back that he had heard "down the grapevine" that Jet2 were coming and that recruitment days were being scheduled. I did ask if he was getting confused with the recent STN expansion to which he said "No this is at SEN". Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Where would Jet2 get all these aircraft from?

They are basing 2 more at BHX, 2 more at MAN, 1 at LBA, at least 2 more at STN and that doesn't take into account any aircraft retirements (G-CELI looks to be gone this month for a starter).

Then there are rumours of a BRS base too which would be either 2 or 4 aircraft, now SEN at 4. That's 16 aircraft to find for next summer off the bat, without even considering of any other bases such as BFS/EDI/NCL etc get an extra aircraft too,....

I thought Jet2 were rapidly replacing their 737-300's with 737-800's. If that's the case any operations from SEN would be temporary and that makes little sense.

With Jet2 not even into a full years operation at STN and the fact that it's the airlines only southern base why would they consider SEN seeing its only about 38 miles away and with limitations regarding it's runway not being suitable for Boeing 738's.

Someone is getting carried away with themselves regarding this 'so called new' airline coming to SEN, but I think DC3 Dave and his Flybe assumption may well turn out to be the case.

I can tell you its NOT Jet2 I know for a fact that summer 2018 they are adding more aircraft at STN they wanted to add more but they don’t have them available by summer 2019 they will have at least double the based aircraft at STN than for summer 2017 so forget jet2

I agree it's definitely not Jet2. As DC3 Dave said it is so tempting to share what one has heard instead of waiting for confirmation of a deal done. Having said that, this is a forum to share rumours as well as facts, but I don't want to get my informers into trouble. Wait and see! LOL

As long as it's not Powdair :-D

LOL.... Will they get their A380 into SEN?

tophat27dt....I`m now hoping even more than for SEN, for your own good reputation on this thread that this all comes to fruition.To push it thus you must be extremely sure of yourself (but I think I would leave it myself now to an "announcement").You have moderated previously this thread to a degree so here`s wishing then for your credibility too.

Out of interest, how would it work having potentially 13 based aircraft (4 EasyJet, 5 Flybe/Stobart, 4 new airline) next year and only 10 terminal stands? Would aircraft be moved to stands or pax bussed to remote stands?

all the work that was done during the summer to the apron and taxi ways might have something to do with it

Hmm, just say there were 13 based aircraft, does the airport have enough check-in desks for those with luggage?

Also factor in extra road traffic particularly for the first wave when there is no public transport. I have first hand experience when the tipping point is reached and everything grinds to a halt. All seems fine then suddenly nothing moves.

Does SEN have the luxury of a long approach road to keep any queues away from local road? How big is the drop off zone? Would Southend remain the UK’s favourite airport? If it could then it would be doing very well.

Does SEN have the luxury of a long approach road to keep any queues away from local road? No

How big is the drop off zone? Probably large enough

Would Southend remain the UK’s favourite airport? Unlikely but who knows?

Just street viewed the airport, the approach road doesn't seem that short so would act as a buffer.

The drop off zone is actually the short term car park with a single entry and exit barrier. It won't be long before that has to be modified if the predictions here are accurate.