It is my understanding that representatives from the Carlyle Group joined the London Southend route development team at Routes Europe 2024 this week and were on stand discussing opportunities with airlines. Amit Rikhy, group CEO of CAG Holdings LLC (CAG Holdings is the Carlyle Group's dedicated US-based investment platform for airport infrastructure investment opportunities globally) along with Stephen Cheung, Director of CAG Holdings LLC, flew over to Aarhus Denmark from the United States to join the Southend team made up of Nigel Mayes (Business Development Director), Marc Watkins (Route Development Manager) & Lin Hull (Business Development).

With a few airlines scheduled to visit London Southend throughout this year, let's hope talks were positive and we begin to see the benefits of the takeover in the not-so-distant future, but I must say it doesn't bode well for the "they are going to run it into the ground and build houses" crowd.

Well that does at least sound optimistic. Thanks for sharing.

Wouldn’t it be disappointing if they were not present at such event?

No, I don't think it would. In my experience it's been airport route development/marketing people who attend such events, not the very top management of the airport's owners. They attended to show that they mean business and will back up the management team in my view.

We really do not know what Carlyle want at this stage other than to protect their money whatever way they see fit. I cannot see them pumping out regular upbeat predictions regarding the airport as has been the way over past years.

I agree - it's a significant show of support for the marketing team. :ok:

Nice to see Ascend Airways operating a SEN-HUY charter this afternoon with B738 G-HODL.

EZY to reopen the SEN base with 3x based A320 from 1 May 2025 - via SeanM on X

Brilliant news!

Indeed! And as per airport e-mail just now six new previously unserved routes to go on sale by easyJet holidays - Pisa, Antalya, Dalaman, Enfidha, Marrakesh.

BOOM!

Yes the correct destinations this time ie holiday routes which is what Southend needs to be successful

Who next WZZ from away bases? Remind me, does a full A321 work well on SEN runway?
If this means SEN gets fully based customs officers then LCY operators should take note and make SEN #1 diversion airport once again.

Good try but you are not going to rain on this parade today.

The silence is deafening from the doom mongers!!

Certainly good news for the airport and its supporters.

I was not being negative, just thinking ahead.
To make serious money the new owners will require more than this.
With LTN making 4 new stands available then I would expect WZZ to base more aircraft there. Then you have the question of the first wave arrivals from Europe, could some be directed to SEN?

Good news for SEN and hopefully the start of a more meaningful recovery for them. With the six routes announced, AYT, DLM, LPA, NBE, PSA and RAK, assuming each flies 3x a week (I can't see them each being much more than that initially) that's only 18 departures a week, which even just one aircraft could just about serve if utilised effectively.

I'd imagine therefore with a three aircraft base they will either add more or will switch the existing EJU routes back to SEN based. Assuming a daily AGP, ALC, AMS, FAO, PMI and maybe 4 weekly CDG on top of what's accounced today, all on SEN based fleet, would probably just about fill three aircraft worth of flying.

The interesting question in that scenario is where would all the current EJU flying into SEN go to, or might they reduce some of their Mediterranean bases? I'm sure our friends over at SOU would be hoping to pick some of this up.

Interesting to see the longer distances than has been the norm for summer routes from SEN. Possibly to protect against anyone operating 738s jumping in to do damage.

If history is anything to go by they'll be making fuel stops every other week on those longer sectors during the height of summer. Even the odd FAO and AGP's couldn't take on the fuel required to go non-stop with the payloads on particularly hot/humid summer days and would stop at somewhere like NTE or BOD to pick up more fuel. I would hope EZY have the sense to schedule those longer sectors for later in the day so they don't risk a knock-on impact to the rest of the day's operation when this is neccessary.

Less of an issue with the NEO's?