The problem for SEN is that competitor airports have economies of scale. It’s like comparing the local corner shop with a Tesco superstore so the limited Easyjet flight schedule will just add to the debts, as there are not enough flights to keep the staff busy. SEN would not be able to set fees high enough to ensure a profit. Breakeven point seems to be around 2.25m passengers.

If I were the CEO of SEN... I would set a target of 2024 to get at least 1m pax per year with revenue per pax meaning a company profit if scaled up to 2.5m pax. Also a significant half-way review in spring 2023. If there is no expectation by 01-Jan-2024 of at least 1m pax in calendar year 2024, then it's time for a major strategy change of airport ownership and use

Or in other words... do everything you can for now to make it work... but know if/when to stop flogging a dead horse

Tomorrow marks the restart of pax operations with a single flight to Palma.

Numbers looking positive though. Only 16 seats showing available on the outbound and 91 occupied on the inbound.

Absolutely spot on. The sooner Southend diversifies into other aviation areas, the more chance of a sustained survival.

I wonder what the staff will be doing for the rest of their shift?

Well, it’s game on. Never thought I’d see that shade of orange over Leigh-On-Sea again.

Late arrival, even later departure but hey-ho! we have to perform like the big boys to succeed.

From airport website
So is the terminal really open for these hours for a flight that departs at 4 in the afternoon?

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/201...orca-take-off/

Nice photo of the staff. Seems a bit over staffed to me. Wouldn’t 2 on security be enough?

Good luck Southend, let’s hope for a bright future!

If I had any say over the future direction of Southend, I would be building hangars to encourage MROs, increase the rental footprint of the airfield to give long term income from tenants. There are areas that could be redeveloped with a longer term income expectation. For the days that the terminal is not being used, open it up for commercial use. The asset has a runway, half the catchment area are fish, so chasing the Stansted or Luton is unrealistic. Be a Bournemouth, the place is covered with hangars and warehouses. This brings the income to pay the bills.

One of the more interesting articles including profits per route table.

https://simpleflying.com/london-sout...r-flight-2022/

Some posts on social media reporting that Air Horizont are to base 2 of their 737-400's at Southend. 9H-ZAZ arrived from Liverpool today.

8674 - do you have any URLs for that ? Not trying to say "I don't believe you" - more a case of hoping to find more info on this. Alas one aircraft positioning into an airport once doesn't necessarily imply an aircraft will be based there for a few months...

There have been local rumours of this for some time so the current reports would appear to confirm it as being true. I'm not sure who will be supplying engineering back up though.

Nighttime slots restrictions at STN prompting this?
Nimey beware!

Yes, very interesting. The Geneva, Alicante and Ibiza routes seem like a good opportunity to make money for some LCC.

Here’s hoping for positive news.

One slight concern. I stand to be corrected but I believe all aircraft bar one have been late departing this week, despite nearly all arrivals being early.

I appreciate there will be many newbies involved and we are talking about safety critical work but I hope every effort is being made to address this - assuming it is down to the airport.

Delays seem to be the way it is at the moment. Look at other departure boards on Flightradar, they are full of yellow and red.

Having one departure a day must put the staff under a lot of pressure when they are used to none.

Could I ask what Air Horizont might plan to do with one or two aircraft based at SEN ? They seem to be a largely passenger charter based airline with 30 year old mainly high density 737s - is there maybe one travel agency that is likely to substantially engage their services ?

Given the way things are going, might be a cheap place to park up in the hope of getting short notice charter/sub work

Off to Manchester Saturday morning I believe.