Was AZ anything other than speculation? Did the airline ever actually mention an STN move.

When FR were interested in a purchase I could see it being a cheap and risk free entry into LH using AZ to feed the FR network. That gave STN credibility but now FR have dropped all interest what else made it more than hope and dreams?

Someone on here a few weeks ago actually put up the timings of the 'planned' schedule from STN to FCO three times daily and were supposedly be starting in March 2018 but since then it has gone quiet regarding AZ moving from LHR to STN.

If AZ are quitting LHR and looking to relocate to another London airport I should imagine that LGW would be a priority now that there are suitable slots recently becoming available due to the collapse of Monarch.

ch.aviation has an article where it states that any slots may not be of any monetary value due to the fact that Monarch no longer exist as an entity any more.

While there are a number of slots at Gatwick and they are returned to the 'pool' what puts AZ anywhere near the front of the queue?

I don't think anyone has suggested that AZ will be 'anywhere near the front of the queue' but surely they would be looking at any of the available slots made available at LGW and that's only IF they actually are looking at leaving LHR which hasn't actually been officially confirmed.

Yes point taken.
I haven't seen anything other than the post here that a move anywhere was on the cards

CargoLogicAir has added a second scheduled service from STN.
Once weekly B748F STN-FRA-Dubai-HKG on Day 6 with a non-stop return HKG-STN arriving Day 1.
Is also hoping to add a 3rd weekly service STN-ATL-MEX in early 2108.

The airport has reduced its capacity forecast after a consultation with local parties.

Yes...proclaimed as being a good neighbour.
Projection now to 43m PA in the next decade as opposed to 44.5m PA originally mentioned.

Primera...As anticipated 3 weekly Toronto/YYZ commences 19.5.18

Primera Air to launch London Stansted-USA flights in 2018

All things to all men, no focus (!) Decide what you're doing methinks.

Regrettably STN has a rather poor record of start ups and failures when it comes to transAtlantic services, starting with Highland Express in the 80's when I worked at the airport. I can remember their 747 being tech for days and armed police being called to the terminal to quell rioting pax. I hope it has more success this time.

Skipness One Echo...Can you explain/expand your post please.Ta

1. Brand new aircraft are expensive
2. Marketing into new markets likewise.
3. Unprecedented prices = discounting as a loss leader to gain market share
4. High quality product concept serving business market

Point 4 clashes with point 3, very hard to do both well.
Paying for point 1 while pitching via point 3 is challenging unless you have enormous economies of scale, which they don't. We'll see.

Perhaps SSB with your knowledge of STN you could list the airlines that have tried and failed to make a success of North American services out of Stansted.

Are we including the ones that were put out of businesss by others just moving there to put those already mentioned out of business, and those just offering services to crush competition before pulling out?

There is no reason why STN can't support USA routes. In the past start ups have been ihindeted by flag carriers moving in at a loss just to put them out if business.

That was in the era of BAA of course, now the airport is independant if the other London airports things might be different.

Absolutely right. When I worked there Freddie was about to start Skytrain, his checkin desks were in place in the terminal, and BAA were in charge. Of course before that it was the affinity charters with Saturn and Capitol stretched DC 8s with 200 pax non stop to LAX. It made for interesting take offs.

I hope things will be different this time regrettably STN does seem to have negative image when it comes to Atlantic services, but fingers crossed.

Negative image with who? Probably not the pax Primera are looking to attract.

Presumably with the airline industry otherwise why over the last 30 years have airlines started and then withdrawn.

Planespeaking...Comic that a press release from 2017 stirs the ole 1980`s memory.
Memories are useful but how it relates to today`s age is rather beyond me I`m afraid.
Listing airlines that have come & gone is rather pointless too in my view.But.........
I remember being woken as a boy by it transpired KLM DC-8-30`s using STN @ least once a week to the USA as a fuel stop not have full transatlantic capability in the early days.
Leaving school I worked for an airline @ STN that flew affinity group charters & ABC charters(quasi scheduled then) to amongst other destinations in North America...Oakland..LAX..JFK & Toronto.
Fortunately for us both perhaps there appear to be young dynamic challenger enterprises willing to take advantage of the new world (pun sorry) & equipment/technology to offer new generations different ideas.
Your views perhaps are rather jaundiced.

Ahh.....the lightweight white railings between the traffic lights at the 23 R/W end...
A Capitol DC8 re landscaped that on one memorable occasion & it was said not just with jet blast!!!..