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Post by expressflight on May 16, 2012 7:55:57 GMT
I read yesterday that Biggin Hill has so far received applications for 360 movement slots for the Olympics period, including charter aircraft of ATR size and similar.
I haven't heard anything at all in this context for SEN. I had assumed that bizjet traffic would increase substantially and that some pax charters would also take place. Does anyone have information on how many slots have been requested? Maybe SEN are a little cautious as far as pax charters are concerned as the terminal seems to be operating at capacity sometimes and there are currently only five stands serving the terminal. I know that this week all five have been occupied at times.
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Post by devonian on May 16, 2012 9:12:53 GMT
It is a measure of the success that the airport has experienced in such a short space of time that the Olympics, for long mentioned as a significant opportunity for SEN now seem to be a bit of a problem.........
Surely there's room for many charters during the day, after the morning rush?
There was talk about bizjet pax using the old terminal - is that not possible?
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Post by Tagron on May 16, 2012 13:48:30 GMT
I have heard nothing specific about SEN and the Olympics, but three weeks ago I read a report to the effect that of all the slots in Southern England available for the period only 25% had been taken up and that no-one knew if operators were leaving it to the last minute (thereby risking not getting their desired slots) or simply not coming in the expected numbers.
The same report mentioned that LTN, STN, LCY, BIG and FAB were the principal beneficiaries. Two airfields who were hoping for heavy demand for parking executive jets had received zero bookings. So the question is, will this reputed huge armada of executive jets actually arrive ? A cynic would say that the main benefit to SEN's traffic will be from the numbers of Londoners leaving the country for the duration.
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Post by Tagron on May 24, 2012 9:11:58 GMT
Expressflight's request for information on pprune has not produced any useful responses. So one has to assume that no-one knows, or that those that know are not telling.
I came across the following in the Evening Standard for April 2 which I had missed earlier:
…….The airport also owns and operates an FBO, which it plans to renovate in time for the opening of the Olympic Games in London this summer. According to Jonathan Rayner, head of business development for the airport, London Southend expects to request bids for an established FBO operator to take over the job. “We expect to have a well known global FBO brand partner established in time for the Olympics.” He also noted that London Southend is an official port-of-entry with border agency staff available 24/7......
There was also an earlier report in pprune (December) from a Luton poster that Signature had obtained access to SEN slots through the SEN FBO, presumably meaning Southend Handling.
But is anything actually happening ?
Regarding Expressflight's comments on the possible shortage of terminal stands, surely remote parking and transport to the terminal is all that is needed - which is just what the other airports will presumably do.
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Post by devonian on May 24, 2012 11:01:22 GMT
This is from the Evening Echo three days ago:
"Chiefs at Southend Airport are aiming to attract rich businesses and individuals with the money to charter their own flights to the town by trading on its proximity to the Games site in Stratford. They are even considering recreating a private jet lounge within the old terminal building, which was superseded by a new £10million structure in February, to cope with demand.
Alastair Welch, the airport’s managing director, said: “We are looking at options to relocate the private jet lounge within the old passenger terminal. The previous facility there has been converted for use as a security control post.”
Southend has been named among a swathe of airports surrounding the capital which will have their flights strictly monitored during the Games to avoid over-crowding. But the rules still allow the airport to cater for 358 private flights every day between July 21 and August 15, although that number will be further limited by Southend’s strict night flight restrictions.
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Post by Tagron on May 24, 2012 11:44:12 GMT
Less than two months to go and they are "considering" and "looking at options". It's beginning to look like pie in the sky, and an unattractive option to potential users - though I hope that's not the case.
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Post by expressflight on Jul 6, 2012 8:38:03 GMT
Major US FBO operator Landmark Aviation have signed up with SEN to set up in the new FBO facility which has resulted from the redevelopment of the old terminal airside area. They are promoting SEN as their clients' recommended London arrival point this summer for the Olympics and other flights.
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Post by Tagron on Jul 6, 2012 11:45:59 GMT
Landmark may be a major player in the USA and Canada but according to their website their European operations to date appear confined to France where they have facilities at eight airports.
So one presumes they must bringing with them to SEN a sizeable contingent from their USA clientelle. Otherwise, most European operators surely would have made their arrangements by now so close to the event, and this would be with the known FBOs at the established bizjet airfields.
The inference of the SEN news release is that the agreement with Landmark covers only a very limited period. If so, what happens at the end of the summer ?
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Post by Tagron on Jul 7, 2012 10:33:35 GMT
Further perusal of the Landmark Aviation website shows they operate 46 aircraft, five of which are air ambulance and the rest split into categories of turboprop (9), light jet (16), medium jet (10) and heavy jet (6). Heavy jet in their definition means Challenger 604, Falcon 900C, Gulfstream 450, GulfstreamIII, Gulfstream IV.
The website is somewhat light on details of the SEN facility but gives a link to the SEN website. At least it is up and running already. The general manager is shown as Denis Bourgois who is also their GM at Le Bourget. Maybe he and/or staff from Paris will relocate to SEN for the duration ?
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Post by expressflight on Jul 24, 2012 7:11:21 GMT
Just an update to a couple of things on the FBO situation.
The new FBO lounge facilities, located in the old terminal arrivals area, were due to open yesterday and at the same time handling became mandatory for all non-based aircraft over 2.5 tonnes MTOW. The new facility uses stands 12 to 16 as required and offers discrete arrival/departure facilities for business users.
The agreement with Landmark runs until October initially with the hope that it may be extended and there are now dedicated staff shown for the SEN FBO on Landmark's website.
There seem to be very few slots booked for the Olympic period, for which demand seems to have been grossly overestimated generally, so how much business the FBO will attract remains to be seen. It should also be remembered that the cost of a day visit to SEN for a PA31/C421 has now risen considerably with handling being mandatory.
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Post by movementman on Jul 24, 2012 8:34:35 GMT
Olympics 2012: With regard to mandatory handling this only applies to aircraft that are flying for hire & reward not privately operated aircraft.
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Post by expressflight on Jul 24, 2012 9:21:01 GMT
If that really is the case why does the NOTAM say "Visiting aircraft over 2.5 tonnes - compulsory handling required"? There is no mention of any differentiation between private and hire & reward flights so potential users won't realise this.
I suggest the NOTAM be changed otherwise you are putting people off using SEN needlessly. After all, the minimum handling charge is £150 each way so it's not exactly an insignificant sum.
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Post by movementman on Jul 24, 2012 13:14:41 GMT
OLYMPICS 2012 NOTAM C3572/12 READS VISITING ACFT OVER 2.5 TONNES OPR FOR HIRE OR REWARD - COMPULSORY HANDLING REQUIRED. I THINK THAT IS CLEAR ENOUGH!!.
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Post by expressflight on Jul 24, 2012 15:56:35 GMT
movementman
Now that the NOTAM has been amended today it's perfectly clear.
Seeing as it didn't include the bit about 'hire & reward' previously, I don't quite see why you felt the need to shout.
Edit: You refer to it as an 'Olympics 2012 NOTAM', which would suggest it's just being applied only for the duration of the Games, yet on the airport website 'Fees & Charges' page there is no mention of compulsory handling being only temporary over that period - simply that it will apply wef 23 July 2012.
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Post by Tagron on Aug 1, 2012 20:45:13 GMT
According to the Herts & Essex Observer, Stansted had 165 bizjets parked there over last Friday night, the end of the peak arrival period. This was 9 more than their previous record set up in May 2011 on the occasion of the Champions League final|.
As I understand it, Biggin, Farnborough and Luton all had substantial influxes. I don't know the numbers. Luton sent some of their aircraft to Cranfield but otherwise there seems to have been no need for remote parking.
Clearly the established operators had the situation sewn up well in advance. Although the numbers were large they were containable, so there was no overspill for the hopefuls. Certainly some airfields received none or very few. I hear SEN may be in this category. Even Northolt had to take to advertising its availability just three weeks before the event.
Some airfields are realising that far from finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow they have lost out through deterring potential g.a.customers by aggressive pricing, mandatory handling, slot booking PPR and so forth, and have already taken steps to correct this. Even Biggin I hear has now removed the need for PPR .
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