JET 2
 

I see from FR24 that a JET 2 A321 has come into SEN this morning. Any comments/ideas what has brought this in?

It's the HiFly a/c that hasn't flown for a week - end of lease checks/paint?

Interesting little read over a late breakfast. Nothing remarkable about it except towards the end the prediction that passenger numbers will grow from 150k this year to 500k in 2024.

Perfectly possible of course but a major announcement will have to be made pretty soon if that target is to be achieved.

For Southend the nightmare of Covid has never ended while all the other London airports have bounced back big time. I am sure it is even a mystery to those running the airport that everything is in place except passengers. Will Ryanair and Wizz come back one day or has Easyjet made its position clear behind closed doors with Southend now not offering deals to the other airlines?

Don't forget that SEN is currently not in a position of "offering deals to the other airlines".

Consequent to its Carlyle bailout loan a couple of years ago Esken pledged that all airline deals would have to be on a strictly commercially viable basis. I would suggest that is the major reason that other deals have not been struck over that period. We must hope that there are interested airlines who may sign up if the new owners (should a sale actually take place) are able to offer a more attractive financial package.

Quite a busy day at SEN tomorrow by recent standards. Seven EZY flights comprising AGP, PMI, FAO, ALC, CDG and AMS x 2. All operated by aircraft from European bases of course. CDG is the inaugural flight so interesting to see that the CDG-SEN is sold out.

Let us hope there is thorough screening for bed bugs 🐜 in place!

There was a very big rugby match in Paris yesterday.

Do alot of South Africans & New Zealanders live in Southend area?

Maybe not but I find it more interesting that the inbound ALC-SEN is showing a full load on the seat plan. Obviously none of those pax flew out from SEN, this being the inaugural flight of the winter, yet they're happy enough to fly into SEN and travel home from there.

New route development manager:

https://airlinergs.com/london-southe...nt-department/

Not sure Coventry & Cardiff are good to have on your CV?

He probably came cheap but let’s give the guy a chance. I do question how he will fill his days, as there is only so much he can do?

That's a bit harsh.

I guess they're in negotiations with so many carriers that it needs the combined talents of Nigel and Marc to cope. Seriously though I think those two will work effectively together.

Especially Coventry!

At Birmingham, Marc Watkins had success in delivering new routes and capacity with Air India, Continental Airlines, Emirates, Gulf Air, Mahan Air, Turkish Airlines and US Airways. Impressive, but his contacts there won't be of much use for SEN I fear.

Marc Watkins' contacts at Mahan Air are unlikely to help Southend. But his contacts from working for several years at anna.aero might. Give the guy a chance... or explain why you would be better at the job.

Last throw of the dice?
https://news.sky.com/story/southend-...s-arm-12996762

What do Esken have left once they've sold the biomass business and then Southend? Carlisle?