Post by devonian on Nov 8, 2009 13:47:56 GMT
Several intersting points made in the article, although the 'mini-town dream' is an unfortunate one, I think, possibly providing SAEN with another misunderstanding..... Here is part of the article:
Southend Airport boss's 'mini-town' dream
2:00pm Saturday 7th November 2009
THE boss of Southend Airport has spoken of his vision for the future of south Essex on the back of its £30million development plans. Managing director Alastair Welch says the airport could eventually handle two million passengers a year, based on a model which has been successful at Southampton Airport, in Hampshire. The port city’s airport handles 1.96 million passengers annually, and is home to 15 airlines and operators serving 43 destinations across the UK and Europe. Mr Welch said of Southampton: “It serves both business and leisure needs to a wide choice of destinations. It also operates aircraft up to 150 seats or so, and that’s really where we would like to be in ten years.”
That railway development is already under way, with £12million set to be spent on a new station on the Southend Victoria line, which will enable passengers to be in central London in around an hour.
He said: “Inbound passenger traffic to London currently has to go to other congested airports in the area. “Flights landing here could get in 20 minutes ahead of slots at other airports.
“That means for airlines that they would be able to be on the ground quicker, so they are burning less fuel, their staff costs are lower, and their maintenance costs overall would be lower from reduced total flying time, so it saves them money, and also helps the environment because it saves fuel. “For passengers, they would clear through the airport and be on the train within 20 minutes, so you could be in central London faster than you would have even cleared through Gatwick.”
He said: “We are aiming to have our facilities in place by summer 2011 to demonstrate they are ready and capable, and will be the most accessible airport by mainline train straight into Stratford. “We see the Olympics as a very effective platform for promoting not just Southend, but the whole south Essex area.”
Southend Airport boss's 'mini-town' dream
2:00pm Saturday 7th November 2009
THE boss of Southend Airport has spoken of his vision for the future of south Essex on the back of its £30million development plans. Managing director Alastair Welch says the airport could eventually handle two million passengers a year, based on a model which has been successful at Southampton Airport, in Hampshire. The port city’s airport handles 1.96 million passengers annually, and is home to 15 airlines and operators serving 43 destinations across the UK and Europe. Mr Welch said of Southampton: “It serves both business and leisure needs to a wide choice of destinations. It also operates aircraft up to 150 seats or so, and that’s really where we would like to be in ten years.”
That railway development is already under way, with £12million set to be spent on a new station on the Southend Victoria line, which will enable passengers to be in central London in around an hour.
He said: “Inbound passenger traffic to London currently has to go to other congested airports in the area. “Flights landing here could get in 20 minutes ahead of slots at other airports.
“That means for airlines that they would be able to be on the ground quicker, so they are burning less fuel, their staff costs are lower, and their maintenance costs overall would be lower from reduced total flying time, so it saves them money, and also helps the environment because it saves fuel. “For passengers, they would clear through the airport and be on the train within 20 minutes, so you could be in central London faster than you would have even cleared through Gatwick.”
He said: “We are aiming to have our facilities in place by summer 2011 to demonstrate they are ready and capable, and will be the most accessible airport by mainline train straight into Stratford. “We see the Olympics as a very effective platform for promoting not just Southend, but the whole south Essex area.”