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Post by EGMCfollower on Mar 20, 2013 13:50:50 GMT
Excellent news - Thanks!
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Post by tagron on Mar 21, 2013 9:59:26 GMT
In response to fatmed's question about the possible Thomson operations by their own aircraft at SEN, their fleet consists of B737-800, B757 and B767-300ER, the latter being primarily for longhaul.
The problem for 738 operations at SEN is that Thomson and many otherwise likely airlines use high density seating (189 pax) versions which makes for a heavy aircraft. The most restrictive parameter at SEN looks to be landing distance. The Boeing figures suggest to me that they would have to restrict pax loads to approx 155 to achieve Regulated Landing Weight at SEN with normal fuel reserves. This is a ballpark figure because I do not have access to a detail specification of the TOM aircraft. However it should be clear that an operator is unlikely to accept this scale of restriction for regular operations, though perhaps it might be considered for a one-off charter.
The B757 is a very capable aircraft from SEN's runway. In theory it could carry a full load to the Canaries or the Eastern Med. It may seem rather a large aircraft for an entirely new route, though TOM seem to be in the process of reducing capacity from 233 to 211. I believe that specific CAA approval is necessary for commercial operations of a Code 4 aircraft from a Code 3C airport such as SEN, so perhaps a safety case has to be presented by an operator or the airport. I have raised this question in the past here and elsewhere but no-one has come back with a response. It would seem ironic that after years of 757 usage of SEN for maintenance by a variety of operators if commercial operations were to be restricted by an essentially bureaucratic requirement.
For 738 and 757 commercial operations SEN would have to raise RFF from 6 to 7, and presumably they would not do so until there was a clear operator commitment.
Bu the short answer is I would think it most likely Thomson will continue to charter from other airlines for a future SEN programme.
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Post by fatmed on Mar 21, 2013 13:06:11 GMT
Thank you Tagron
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Post by expressflight on Mar 28, 2013 9:21:34 GMT
With reference to my post of 19 March, I see there are some reductions in frequency to those I posted for July/August this year as follows:
SXF down from 7 to 6 x weekly KRK down from 6 to 4 x weekly NQY down from 6 to 3 x weekly
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Post by tagron on Apr 1, 2013 20:49:20 GMT
As a follow up to my post of March 21 regarding possible 757 commercial operations from SEN, I see there is a new page on the SEN website which includes the following statement under the heading of Aircraft Maximum Size: -
London Southend can accommodate passenger aircraft including up to Boeing 757 size,including most of the Airbus A320 and B737 families of aircraft, regional jets such as British Aerospace RJ-100 and Embraer 195 families. Operators must satisfy themselves that the weights and sector lengths that they operate their aircraft to, are at all times suitable. Wide-body passenger flights are not possible from London Southend.
Previously this page, which was well out date in other ways, only referred to 757 operations at SEN in the context of maintenance purposes. Hopefully this means that SEN has secured CAA approval for 757 revenue operations, always assuming of course they had established the need for approval.
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Post by aurigny72 on May 12, 2013 15:10:03 GMT
There are rumours on PPRuNe and a article in todays Sunday Times that due to the high cost of operating smaller aircraft at Gatwick, eg landing charges, that Flybe may sell up to all of their 25 pairs of slots to Easyjet or any other airlines that would buy them, this would give Flybe a much needed £20 million cash boost and maybe they would be looking for a cheaper London Airport to operate their routes from, they could of course move to Stansted or perhaps have a change of heart and be attracted to Southend, unlikely i would have thought but who knows, we dont know yet if this story/rumours is true.
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Post by EGMCfollower on May 12, 2013 18:56:02 GMT
If Flybe did come to SEN it would highlight just how easy or difficult it is to compete with EZY as the main based operator, especially with several destination clashes (Jersey, Newquay and Belfast-City - their most popular routes as well). I can't see them coming to Southend, at least not with those routes, but they could go to Luton and make the Isle of Man and Jersey flights there into year round services as opposed to summer seasonal and add on the other Gatwick routes (but then would Luton be cheap enough?).
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Post by devonian on May 12, 2013 19:29:24 GMT
I think flyBE have too much of a downer on SEN to start services from there (does anyone know why they are so negative about the airport...?).
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Post by expressflight on May 13, 2013 7:10:51 GMT
I cannot really see BE choosing SEN if, and surely it is only "if" at the moment, they moved out of LGW. I would think that STN would be front runner (because of it's new owner offering good incentives) and LTN a close second.
You're right in saying that BE have "a downer on SEN" for some reason. I had quite a heated discussion with their delegate at last year's French Connect regarding SEN. He wouldn't even accept that SEN was a LON airport, although IATA's subsequent recognition of it as such may have made him think again. Unless their view has changed radically I doubt they will be appearing at SEN any time soon. At least SEN will be attending Routes Europe this time so they'll no doubt be pitching hard to make their case.
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Post by devonian on May 13, 2013 7:36:41 GMT
The Routes Europe forum this year is, it seems to me, of great importance to SEN. If the airport can't win over one of the major UK regional airlines maybe it will have better luck with a continental carrier. Certainly the SEN representatives have a much stronger hand to play this year - solid achievements and a much larger terminal rather than simply promises and forecasts.
You can bet that Oxford, Cambridge, Norwich will all be there alongside a no doubt very impressive MAG-rejuvenated STN delegation; but SEN has the advantage over the three smaller airports of 0.8 million pax per year and an expanding EZY base (although that could be a double edged sword for some airlines, there are plenty of second tier routes which could be profitably served from SEN). So, good luck this week ladies and gentlemen of the SEN delegation..........
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Post by fatmed on May 13, 2013 9:00:32 GMT
Speaking of the SEN delegation. Who is attending for them now that mr Rayner has departed for EDI?
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Post by devonian on May 13, 2013 10:02:32 GMT
Would it be Hannah Lo Bao?
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Post by expressflight on May 13, 2013 14:38:40 GMT
The boss himself, AW.
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Post by devonian on May 13, 2013 15:30:59 GMT
Excellent. Shows they are taking it seriously: this is their moment, I feel.........
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Post by EGMCfollower on May 15, 2013 13:33:04 GMT
Any feedback from the Routes Europe convention yet?
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