Southend Airport News

Some news stories about the airport:

US firm Carlyle to take control of Southend airport after debt deal

Essex-based hub to pass into hands of private-equity firm after agreement on £194m debt

Julia Kollewe (Guardian)
Wed 6 Mar 2024

Southend airport is to pass into the control of the US private-equity group Carlyle after an agreement to settle a debt, in the latest takeover of a UK firm by a foreign company.

The London-listed aviation group Esken, formerly Stobart Group, said it had reached a deal over the £193.75m debt that its subsidiary London Southend airport owed to Carlyle Global Infrastructure Fund (CGI).

Under the deal, CGI will take an 82.5% stake in the Essex-based airport, while Esken will keep a 17.5% stake. Esken’s shares will be delisted from the London Stock Exchange as part of the process, and shareholders will be left empty-handed.

“The expectation is that any return for shareholders at the end of the process is likely to be negligible,” Esken said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

The deal, agreed with the board of the airport, includes a short-term unsecured £5m bridge loan to the hub as part of a commitment of £32m of new funding to secure its future growth.

Esken said it had opted for the restructuring because it lacked the financial resources to fight a protracted court battle. The restructuring will require a court process.

It added: “The court process for the Esken restructuring plan is likely to take several months to conclude but, in the meantime, the future funding of London Southend airport is secure and the board will progress the orderly wind down of the remaining group.”

The deal also involves Cyrus Capital Partners, a London-based private-equity firm, which holds a £53m bond that matures on 8 May, and will provide liquidity to the Esken group during this process.

The airport’s chief executive, John Upton, previously said Carlyle and Cyrus had “extensive experience across the aviation industry and deep knowledge of our airport”.

Southend was redeveloped with soaring ambition a decade ago, and appeared likely to grow exponentially among airports that service London, as airlines including easyJet and Ryanair established bases there. But then the Covid-19 outbreak brought international travel to an abrupt halt in 2020.

In 2021, as the pandemic continued to weigh on travel, the company borrowed £125m from Carlyle to secure its finances through the crisis. Carlyle later claimed Esken had broken the terms of its loan and asked for £200m back. The latest deal will settle that dispute.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/06/us-firm-carlyle-take-control-london-southend-airport-debt-deal-private-equity

Amazon night flights to end at Southend Airport

1st September 2022

Esken, which owns Southend airport,  has confirmed that Amazon night flights are to end at the airport, from mid-September, after a “change of strategic focus”.  They were Southend Airport’s main cargo freighter service.  The flights only started in October 2021. The operation has over time reduced from an original 18 flights per week to 7 since October 2021. Esken says there will be a change of strategic focus from air freight to road-based cargo, to “fulfil more customer demand locally.”  Many residents have had been frustrated at the overnight Amazon cargo from Southend Airport and called for them to be scrapped.

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20872755.amazon-night-flights-end-southend-airport/

Blow for Southend airport as Ryanair departs

August 10th 2021

Southend is facing the prospect of no paying passengers as Ryanair pulled out its planes, a year after its rival easyJet had done the same. This is yet another setback for Southend airport’s owner Esken, the listed company previously known as Stobart Group.  The announcement that Ryanair has exercised an option to end its three-year contract at Southend. sent shares in Esken to all-time lows, closing down 1p, or 6 per cent, at 15¼p.  Esken said Ryanair’s withdrawal of its two planes based at the airport will have negligible financial impact mainly because there have not been any passenger services anyway.  Under its contract it was effectively paying Ryanair to operate from Southend, and Esken actually makes money from a portion of the fare from travellers coming in through the railway station it built next door — from which there haven’t been any revenues. The airport is now hoping to get business from Wizz Air, Europe’s third-largest budget airline. Wizz has committed to start flights at Southend from October, albeit just three a week to Romania and Lithuania.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/blow-for-southend-airport-as-ryanair-departs-slxrq0jlz

Southend airport owners, Esken, to get £20 million loan from CGI, to keep it going

July 5, 2021

Southend Airport is to get a £20 million cash injection (over 3 years) to boost its recovery from the Covid pandemic. Airport owner, Esken, has agreed a loan with US private equity firm Carlyle Global Infrastructure (CGI) – which will lend £120 million to Esken, which can be converted into a 30% stake in the airport. They hope it will help the airport survive, and attract low cost airlines for holiday flights. Only 147,000 passengers flew through the airport in the financial year end February 28 – compared to 2.1 million the year before. Of these 147,000 passengers, 68,000 flew in March 2020 before travel restrictions took hold – so only about 78,000 used the airport since March 2020.

Click here to view full story…

Sir David Amess (Southend West MP) in plea to Southend Council to get night flights scrapped

April 7, 2021

Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, has said that night flights at Southend Airport must be scrapped, as residents continue to battle sleepless nights. He has written to Southend Council leader Ian Gilbert pleading for his support in getting them banned, for the sake of residents. The Amazon cargo night flights have been the topic of heated debate since they launched in October 2019. The airport has permission for 120 night flights per month, but insists the number of flights is regularly much lower.  Council bosses have admitted it would be “very difficult” to get the flights scrapped, as the airport is acting inside their targets, and and are not breaking the law. The only way to get the night flights stopped is to have the quota removed from the Airport’s Section 106 Licence Agreement, from the council. The airport is desperate to make some money, due to the pandemic, and would not willingly give up night flights, which provide some income.  This is especially frustrating, when there are very few daytime flights, and many of the cargo planes are old and noisier than more modern planes.  There were actually 127 night flights departing the airport in March 2020, compared to just 78 last month.

Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport to pay out £86k due to runway extension noise, under the Land Compensation Act

April 1, 2021

A court has ordered that Southend Airport should pay a total of £86,500 in compensation to owners of 9 neighbouring homes who say their values were diminished by noise, following the extension of the runway. in 2012  In its ruling, the Upper Tribunal’s Lands Chamber ordered that payments ranging from £4,000 to £17,000 be made in respect of the 9 homes, while a claim for a 10th property was dismissed. The claims for compensation are under the Land Compensation Act 1973. There is more noise, as larger planes land and take off from the airport.  The longer runway enabling the airport to “attract low-cost commercial airlines operating much larger aircraft than had previously flown from it”. The Tribunal agreed that the extra noise had meant depreciation in the value of most of the lead properties.  In 2013, the value of the lead properties ranged from £150,000 to £280,000, and the claimants sought compensation of between £32,200 and £60,100.  The Land Compensation Act says it applies to cases where there have been alterations to runways or aprons.  ie. something physical has been built (not buildings).

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Tory councillors want an end to Southend night flights, largely bringing in Amazon packages

October 24, 2020

Conservative councillors have criticised Southend Airport’s night flights, pledging to “explore every avenue possible” to have them removed. They have made it clear they back “further controlled expansion” but want night flights removed. Some residents say they are being forced to take sleeping tablets because of the sleep disruption caused by night flights. The Conservative councillors said: “We will continue to explore every avenue possible to have the night flight quota removed from the Airport’s Section 106 Licence Agreement.”  Other councillors worry there will be a loss of jobs, and they dare not risk losing them, with so many jobs being lost due to Covid. There are residential roads very close to the airport boundary, with houses must too near the runway. The airport is permitted on average 4 flights per night, but sometimes has fewer.  The airport has cargo flights, bringing in Amazon goods. There are generally 3 per night between 1am and 5.30am, though there had been an earlier agreement not to have flights between midnight and 6am. This agreement has been abandoned.

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Southend Airport’s ‘strong and modest’ start to Covid recovery

5th October 2020

Airport bosses have insisted Southend will survive EasyJet’s decision to pull out, with “modest passenger numbers” and a “strong income” recorded despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Stobart, the owners of Southend Airport, have attempted to reassure investors that a number of route cancellations and the loss of EasyJet will not prove fatal.  The airport’s deal with Amazon to provide night-time cargo flights could be expanded. There are around 4 flights per night, on average, bringing in Amazon goods. “Bosses are confident the airport will benefit from an expected increase in short haul holidays in coming months.”  However, there is no certainty about what travel restrictions there will need to be, if Covid continues for months more.  There may scope for further development of logistics operations, given growth in online shopping demand through Amazon. The Stobart group has not done well financially in recent months.

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18771912.airports-strong-modest-start-covid-recovery/

Stobart job losses due to Covid pandemic and decreased air travel

24.9.2020

More than 60 jobs are at risk at Manchester Airport as part of Stobart Aviation Services’ plans to cut 250 jobs across the UK.

The roles under threat are mainly baggage handlers. In Manchester it is 40% of Stobart Aviation Services’ workforce.

The company is also looking to reduce the number of people it employs at Southend and Stansted Airports by more than 60%.

https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2066978-airport-jobs-under-threat-as-baggage-handlers-risk-being-left-empty-handed 

Southend Airport Amazon night flights to stay despite meeting with MP

3rd September 2020

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18695758.southend-airport-amazon-night-flights-stay-despite-meeting-mp/

Southend Airport: ‘Disappointment’ at Easyjet flight cuts

18 August 2020 (BBC)

Easyjet announced earlier that it will close its bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle, with the loss of 670 jobs.   Due to the Covid pandemic, from 1 September no planes will fly to and from 21 destinations using Southend Airport. A reduced operation will run from Stansted and Newcastle.  A spokeswoman for the airport said the four Easyjet aircraft based there carried more than one million passengers in 2019.  “These are leisure-focused routes, which we expect to be attractive to other airlines,” she said. “As such, we are in active dialogue with airlines regarding their interest in capitalising on these well-established, profitable routes.” The Conservative MP for Southend West, Sir David Amess, said: “I think in total there are 187 employees affected by this, but it’s much more important than that.”  He said the flights were a “great boost to the local economy”  [in reality, they just help boost the tourism deficit for the UK, by facilitating trips by British people to spend their holiday money abroad, not in the UK] but he did not expect Easyjet to return to the airport until as late as 2025.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-53820325

EasyJet plans to close bases at Stansted, Newcastle and Southend – and cut staff by as much as 4,500

July 1, 2020

EasyJet says it has begun consultations on plans to close its bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle airports, though it will keep routes using those airports. It will no longer keep planes there, or base crew there. EasyJet may also be cutting its number of employees by up to a third, about 4,500 out of 15,000 overall.  About 1,300 cabin crew could lose their jobs, and also 727 pilots (which is about a third of the total). The Unite union said “There is no need for this announcement at this time, especially since Easyjet has taken a multi-million pound government loan which it ought to be putting to use defending UK jobs.” But there is little demand for flying at present, and no certainty about Covid in the coming months. Easyjet currently has 11 bases in the UK, with 163 aircraft, serving 546 routes. There are 7 aircraft based at Stansted, with 335 crew. At Southend, there are 4 aircraft and 183 crew; and at Newcastle there are 3 planes and 157 crew. The job cut proposals are not limited to the bases that may close. EasyJet does not expect 2019 levels of demand to be reached again until 2023.

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Flybe Guernsey-Heathrow link cancelled

23.1.2020

Guernsey is losing its air link to Heathrow, Flybe has confirmed.  The route will not be part of the summer 2020 schedule and the last flight will be on 28 March. However, Flybe will be operating a service from Guernsey to London Southend from 2 May.

Last year, Guernsey paid Flybe a subsidy of £28 per passenger to keep the route running from March to October.   The daily Guernsey-Heathrow route started last year and was the first time in 20 years that the island had a connection with London’s largest airport.

It follows the announcement that Blue Islands, a franchise partner of Flybe, would be cancelling its routes from the island to Southend and Liverpool.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-51228034

Southend Airport to be an Amazon parcel hub?

11 October 2019  (Apex)

Stobart Group owned Southend Airport is believed to have struck a deal with Amazon to be a parcel air freight hub.

Southend Airport announced it is launching a service providing ‘facilities and expertise’ with a ‘global logistics customer’ but declined to name the customer.

Local media attempted to confirm the deal between the two companies but both declined to comment. Stobart Group announced the deal to the Stock Exchange but again did not name its customer.

Warwick Brady, CEO of Stobart Group, said: “The agreement will enable us to further diversify and add a new revenue stream for London Southend Airport and Stobart Aviation Services, and is expected to contribute towards Stobart Group’s underlying earnings.”

Local media reports suggest that the airport is to be a UK hub for European flights, with the parcels travelling between the airport and the Amazon distribution centres in Basildon and Tilbury.

A spokesman for Stobart added: “Stobart Group is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement with a global logistics customer to provide facilities and expertise to support the import and export of goods at London Southend Airport.

“The initial two-year agreement will see Stobart provide runway access and import/export facilities by converting existing hangarage on the north side of the runway, away from the south side-based commercial passenger operations. Operations will begin late this month after the deal was agreed.”

https://apex-insight.com/southend-airport-to-be-an-amazon-parcel-hub/

Grandmother complains after Southend airport expansion means 50 planes a day taxi at end of her garden

April 24, 2019

More planes using Southend airport have been causing noise nuisance and distress to local residents. A grandmother has complained as planes now taxi at the end of her garden, and there are 50 jets a day coming within 150ft of her fence. She says the planes going past, sometimes as often as every 20 minutes, with the noise and fumes, have left her and her husband miserable. “You can’t have a conversation in the garden with anyone because you can’t hear them.  When we are inside with the door closed we have to pause the TV until the plane has gone past. We worry about our grandchildren coming around and the enjoyment of having people over for BBQs is ruined. I love my garden and used to do a lot of gardening but now it is all spoilt with the noise and the smell.”  She has complained to the airport numerous times and is concerned the problem could worsen this summer when runways are expected to get busier.  It is very unsatisfactory when residential housing is as close to the taxiways as it is at Southend, and the quality of life of the residents is greatly reduced.

Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport celebrates its 1,000,000th Stobart Air passenger

11.2.2019

https://www.basildonstandard.co.uk/news/17424516.southend-airport-celebrates-one-millionth-passenger/

Stobart plans to open a 24 hour private jet centre at Southend airport in November

October 11, 2017

London is Europe’s busiest city for private aviation, and Southend airport (some 65 km east of London) has become the latest airport to tap into the market. It has announced that the “Stobart Jet Centre” will open in November. Stobart – the owners of Southend airport – hope it will cater for 5,000 private flights per year by 2022, and will be open 24/7 for 364 days a year. That means plane noise on any night for nearby residents, but Stobart see the possibility of flying any time of the night as a big draw for London’s private jet users. [That is, if they can be bothered to travel all the way out to Southend …]  And it will be cheap.  Stobart says it is “…confident that London Southend Airport will become a refreshing, hassle-free alternative to London’s current, crowded private aviation terminals…. The airport is 42 miles from the heart of London’s West End, while chauffeur transfers are under an hour by road to central London. There are also helicopter transfers to and from Canary Wharf or Battersea Heliport.” London Southend said that with no slot restrictions, it will be able to offer faster departure routes outside of London airspace, reducing flight times. There are restrictions on night flights at Southend, to protect residents from night noise. But these apply to commercial flights, not private jets.

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Three bidders for 85% stake in Stobart Air

4 April 2016 (News & Star, Cumbria)

Three bidders have emerged to buy a controlling interest in Stobart Air, the airline behind plans for scheduled flights from Carlisle Airport. The News & Star reported in December that Stobart Group and the investment house Invesco were looking to sell their 85 per cent stake in the airline, which operates Aer Lingus Regional services.

Press reports in Ireland suggest that the Dublin-based Aviation Finance Company has tabled a bid, as has Stobart Air’s management led by its chief executive Sean Brogan.  And it is understood that Stobart Group is considering merging Stobart Air with the Irish carrier CityJet in a move that could create one of Europe’s largest regional airlines. It is not clear what, if any, impact a change of ownership at Stobart Air would have on plans for flights from Carlisle.

The Government confirmed in November that proposed routes from Carlisle to London Southend, Belfast and Dublin are among five to share a £7m start-up subsidy for new services from regional airports. Stobart Group owns Carlisle and Southend airports, giving a strong incentive for a Stobart-owned airline to operate services between them. That would no longer be the case if the company sold its stake.

At present, Stobart Group says, “developments at Carlisle airport are continuing as before”. Chief executive Andrew Tinkler has said that scheduled flights from Carlisle could start this year.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/business/Three-bidders-for-85-per-cent-stake-in-Stobart-Air-bef3f952-2e57-44b9-aa41-6c80256b89f9-ds

Solar farm built by Stobart at Southend airport – another allowed close to Bournemouth airport

January 10, 2016

A new 2.5 megawatt ‘Solar Photovoltaic Array’ has been built by Stobart Developments on 3.2 hectares of unused grassland at the north of the Southend airport site. The airport hopes around 20% of its annual electricity requirement will now be generated by the panels. There will be over 9,500 panels, “mounted on 3 metre high steel frames supported on approximately 2600 piles across 37 rows. The layout of the panels has been specially designed to prevent reflective glare affecting approaching aircraft and the air traffic control tower.” There had previously been concerns about glare from the panels affecting pilots. There is now also to be a solar farm under Bournemouth Airport’s flight path, about 720 metres to the west of the airport. It has been approved by planners at East Dorset District Council. Questions were initially raised over air passengers’ safety when the proposals were revealed, due to the glare and reflection on sunny days. The airport had objected to it, due to solar glare, saying “the effect on operations is pronounced and severe throughout the year, making aircraft operations unsafe if the development was to go ahead.” However, their complaints were then conditionally withdrawn after a “glint and glare” study was done.

Click here to view full story…

Southend airport wants to build an 8 acre solar farm on part of its land

 May 19, 2015

Southend Airport is planning to build a solar farm on part of its land, which cannot be used for much else as it is in a flood plain area. This is land to the north of the main terminal. The plan is for 12,000 solar panels in 41 rows, spread over almost 8 acres of grassland. – and providing up to 20% of the airport’s electricity on some days. Council planners are recommending approval for the plans, even though councillors rejected an almost identical plan a few months ago. As the panels are on frames, they can be above the flood level, and the transformer building would be sited outside the flood plain. The EA objected to the previous application because it would lay on a flood plain, and has submitted a provisional objection this time on the same grounds. Airport officials say the panels will not interfere with the airport’s operations. The plan is that the panels will not disturb nearby badger setts. Rochford’s planning committee is due to vote on the application – on Thursday 20th May. There are still government subsidies for this sort of solar farm, as it is not taking up valuable agricultural land. Some other airports in sunnier countries have solar farms.

Click here to view full story..

Southend airport granted controlled airspace to reduce environmental impacts

2.2.2015 (ITV)

Controlled airpace is to be reintroduced over Southend airport in Essex after an increase in the flights. The airport says this will further safeguard aircraft on approach to and departure from the airport and minimise distance flown to reduce environmental impacts. The airport now has around 1 million passengers a year. Southend had controlled airspace until 1993 and when it was lifted aircraft could come within 2.5 miles and 2000 feet of the airport without having to talk to air traffic controllers.   “Safety and security are our number one priority. Controlled Airspace safeguards aircraft when they are approaching and departing the airport. Improving our efficiency by getting aircraft in and out of the airport without alterations and delays will also minimise the impact of the airport on the local community and is better for the environment.”

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2015-02-02/southend-airport-granted-controlled-airspace-to-reduce-environmental-impacts/

Southend airport had many more passengers in 2013 than in 2012, but much less profit

May 22, 2014

Southend Airport’s parent company Stobart Group has revealed earnings from its aviation division fell from £400,000 to £100,000 last year. Passenger numbers grew 38% to over one million and a newly completed terminal extension raised its capacity to 5 million. To stimulate further growth, the airport has entered into a new partnership with low-cost carrier Flybe to launch a new airline, Stobart Air, which will use two Flybe aircraft to launch 6 new routes to Europe (Antwerp, Caen, Groningen, Maastricht, Munster and Rennes). Stobart said “..there is still work to be done to improve profitability with renewed focus on revenue per passenger and controlling costs.” The company said it was continuing to develop plans for Carlisle Lake District Airport, but these remain dogged by ongoing challenges around planning. Southend airport had 9,476 air transport movements in 2013, which was an increase of 30.4% on 2012, and it had 969,940 passengers, an increase of 57.2% over 2012. So 57% more passengers in 2013 but 75% fall in profit. Aviation is an odd industry.

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After 2 winters Southend Airport has only now applied for a permit to discharge de-icer into local brook

May 8, 2014

The local paper has revealed that Southend Airport has been discharging de-icer into Prittle Brook for more than 2 winters. The airport’s owner, the Stobart Group, has only now applied for a permit from the Environment Agency to discharge up to 79,188 gallons (360 cubic metres) of “trade effluent consisting of deicer”into the waterway every day. Stobart said the application is for surface water running off in the winter. The local Castle Point Wildlife Group are concerned that even if diluted, the de-icer may harm the natural environment. John Fuller, coordinator of the South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “We are very concerned about this in case it has implications on human health. We understand the EA deems it within tolerable limits….. The fact that it has been going on for 2 years shows the controls on the airport are woefully inadequate.” Local fishermen are concerned about the potential pollution of their catches, which are not tested for this sort of pollution. Stobart claim the Environment Agency has monitored the situation and found “little or no impact on water courses and wildlife.” The EA will take comments on this application till 22nd May.

Click here to view full story…

Stobart’s Carlisle airport on hold, and cuts to Flybe and easyJet routes from Southend

April 26, 2014

Stobart Group’s aviation division has suffered another blow, just a month after a High Court judge quashed its plans for Carlisle Airport. Flybe and easyJet have axed routes from Stobart’s Southend Airport. Flybe has cancelled flights to Cologne after only one week in response to an announcement from Ryanair that it is launching a route from nearby Stansted to Cologne. Meanwhile, easyJet has reduced the number of planes based at Southend from 4 to 3, scrapping flights to Krakow and winter services to Jersey and Palma, Majorca. Flybe’s routes from Southend are operated by Stobart Air’s aircraft under a franchising agreement. Flybe’s other new routes to Rennes and Caen, Munster, Antwerp and Groningen will continue. Stobart had hoped the new routes would carry 200,000 passengers in 2015, rising to 700,000 by 2017. Stobart’s plans for Carlisle Airport had envisaged daily flights to Southend and Dublin, but that is held up by the legal challenges though Stobart will submit another planning application.

Click here to view full story… 

Flybe scraps flights to Cologne from Southend Airport after Ryanair starts route from Stansted

Tuesday 15th April 2014

FLYBE has cancelled flights from Southend  to Cologne after only a week as rival Ryanair announced flights from Stansted.  It feared losing passengers to Ryanair. Stobart Air, whose fleet Flybe uses in Southend, is trying to find a replacement or increase capacity on existing routes after claiming it would double the number of passengers using Southend Airport to more than two million in two years. Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city, was the best-known of six new routes Flybe announced from Southend on Thursday, April 3, and flights were due to start on June 5. But the regional carrier jettisoned the route on Thursday after Ryanair revealed it would start 28 flights a week between Cologne and north Essex from October 28.  The Echo understands Ryanair was planning Cologne flights well before Flybe announced the route, but Flybe’s decision to shelve the new destination was purely down to fears over competition from its rival. Flybe’s other new flights, to Rennes and Caen in northern France, Munster in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium and Groningen in the Netherlands, are still available. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11147164.Flybe_cancels_flights_from_Southend_Airport/

Southend airport hopes it will reach 2 million passengers per year by 2015, up from below 1 million in 2013

Southend Airport is now expecting to carry 2 million passengers by 2015 – five years earlier than originally planned. It had said, only two months earlier, that it would reach 2 million passengers per year by 2020.  Passenger numbers at Southend were 970,000 in 2013 and are predicted to be 1.3 million this year. By contrast, before the arrival of easyJet, there were some 42,000 passengers in 2011.  A £10m extension to the airport terminal was formally opened by the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin in February 2014.  The extension marks the end of a £120m revamp by the Stobart Group, which bought the airport in 2008. The growth in numbers of flights has caused a lot more noise for local residents now finding themselves over-flown. The local community group, SAEN, say they will continue to oppose the airport’s expansion plans, due to the noise nuisance – and particularly if the airport tries to alter its operating hours. There is also more road congestion, as the airport is only served by one small road.

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=20889

Southend Airport: Flybe to start 6 new routes to Northern Europe

25 March 2014

Stobart Group sells stake in its truck brand to focus on biomass energy and Southend Airport

March 7, 2014

Stobart Group is to sell a controlling interest in its trucking business to the Isle of Man investment firm DBAY in a £280million deal. Stobart Group will sell a majority stake in Eddie Stobart Logistics to focus on biomass energy and expanding Southend Airport. Stobart will get £195.6million in cash from DBAY, as well as a 49% stake in the new company. William Stobart will head the new business and will own 6% of it. Markets gave the deal the thumbs down, sending shares down 7.75p to 141.75p. The sale includes a complex arrangement under which DBAY can use the Eddie Stobart brand for 4 years without paying. Then it can either buy the brand for use only in transport and logistics for £15million, pay £50million to use the brand however it wishes, or can pay £3million a year to license it. Stobart believes the trucking business has little room for growth and is selling it to focus on fast-growing Southend Airport and get into biomass generation. It believes the airport can increase passengers from 1 million a year to 5 million without much more investment.       Click here to view full story…

London Southend Airport opens new £10m extension

13.2.2014 (BBC)

The extension  is due to open to passengers, with a bigger departure lounge, more check-in desks, revamped baggage reclaim facilities, a new arrivals area and five more plane stands have been built.  The airport said the larger terminal would “ensure high levels of service” as passenger numbers grow. The airport claims: “the project could eventually create about 300 jobs due to more planes being based in Southend.”  The first phase of the extension, housing the arrivals areas, opened in June last year.   Retail and catering facilities are also due to be expanded in the future. The airport was bought by Stobart Group in 2008 and spent £100m on its revamp before it opened in February 2012. In 2013 the airport handled nearly a million travellers, but has said it hoped to increase passenger numbers to two million a year by 2020.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-26171915

Also

Southend Airport’s new £10m extension unveiled

30.1.2014   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-25964362

Building a vast new airport on the Isle of Grain would close Southend Airport

January 15, 2014

If a large new airport is built on the Isle of Grain, Kent, as London Mayor Boris Johnson has suggested, a clash of air space would mean Southend Airport – and City Airport in London – would probably need to close, the Airports Commission has warned in its Interim Statement. They said this could reduce the options available to low cost airlines and reduce the overall gains to airport capacity over the London area overall. They said that, in particular, it would be very challenging to manage the airspace with the 3 airports. Due to last-minute lobbying by the Mayor and Daniel Moylan, the Commission agreed to look at the £112 billion Isle of Grain scheme, put forward by Wembley Stadium designer Lord Norman Foster in more detail,in the first half of 2014, before deciding whether it should be included in the final short-list consultation starting in October. Southend airport has been emphasising how much money they have already invested in the airport. Nigel Holdcroft, leader of Southend Council, said: “The development of a major airport on the Isle of Grain would have adverse economic and environmental effects on Southend.”      Click here to view full story…

easyJet drops flights to Newquay and Edinburgh from Southend

1.1.2014       easyJet has scrapped flights to Edinburgh and Newquay from Southend. It is also scaling back its trips to Jersey and will now only operate 4 a week. This comes after a decision by easyJet in August to scrap flights to Belfast, on January 5.  The company would not reveal the reasons why but said they will “focus the flying schedule there on the routes with the greatest demand.” The airport said  “This summer they added an additional aircraft to the base and have consistently expanded the number of destinations on offer from Southend. We look forward to continuing and growing this relationship.” Flights to Edinburgh have been running since May, and the last will be in June.  “About 5% of our passengers flying in and out of Southend in 2013 used the Edinburgh services.” The Newquay route was launched in June 2013 and carried almost 8,000 passengers in the summer.  In October, easyJet’s UK commercial manager, Hugh Aitken, said in an extra flight would be added in August 2014.  Easyjet runs 25 flights to Edinburgh from other London airports.   It has also recently started flying from Southend to Tenerife.  Click here to view full story …..

EasyJet to fly Newquay to Southend 4 times per week in summer, after it ends Gatwick to Newquay route

October 8, 2013

EasyJet is to increase its weekly flights between Southend to Newquay from 3 to 4 over the summer period only. This comes after EasyJet recently announced it would not continue its flights from Gatwick to Newquay. Almost 8,000 passengers flew from Southend to Newquay this summer by EasyJet. EasyJet – which took over the Gatwick route from Flybe – said there is not enough demand to run a year-round service between Newquay and Southend, and these route from Gatwick was not financially viable for them. A Cornwall MP said the loss of the link to Gatwick would be a “blow to businesses across Cornwall”. EasyJet said : “Following Flybe’s decision to cease operating from London Gatwick to Newquay, Easyjet carefully and thoroughly examined the commercial viability of offering year-round services on the route. Unfortunately, after much consideration, all of the evidence clearly shows that there is insufficient demand to sustain a service using an A319 aircraft with 156 seats.”     Click here to view full story…

Centre for private jets at Southend wants to grow from 4 to 20 business jets per day

October 1, 2013    .

Southend Airport is hoping to increase the numbers of private jets it handles, and increase the number from some 3 – 4 per day at present, to more like 20 per day. Biggin Hill is its main local rival for business jets. In 2012, Biggin Hill dealt with 5,335 during the year, while Southend had 1,163. Stobart Air’s executive handling facility at London Southend Airport celebrated its first anniversary this July. In comparison, in 2012 London City airport had 264 business flights (the rest are commercial), Luton had 15,055 and Farnborough had 21,986 – so way ahead of the others. Southend claims that although it is further outside London than Biggin Hill, passengers arriving at Southend can travel into the City in little more than hour, are that they are more reasonably priced than some of their competitors. The airport says one major advantage of their executive handling facility is that it is open 24 hours a day with onsite Customs and Immigration services also available permanently. ie. night flight noise for Southend and Rochford residents nearby.    .Click here to view full story…

Consultation on Southend Airport Controlled Airspace application – till mid December

September 28, 2013    .

Now Southend has many more flights than a couple of years ago, the airport wants to have control of its immediate airspace(which it had years ago, when it was busier). There is a 12 week consultation at Southend on its plans to introduce controlled airspace around the airport. The consultation started on 20th September and ends on 19th December. Airspace users and local community groups including borough, local and parish councils, are being consulted, though individuals are discouraged from responding, unless they channel their responses through some of the consultee organisations. Currently aircraft are permitted to come within 2.5 miles and 2000 feet of the airport without having to talk to air traffic controllers, which can lead to unplanned alterations to an aircraft’s track and possible delays to scheduled aircraft. Controlled Airspace is a defined area of the airspace around an airport where any aircraft must communicate with Air Traffic Control. The final decision over whether to reinstate the Controlled Airspace rests with the CAA.   .Click here to view full story…

easyJet dropping Belfast to Southend route

10.9.2013    

EasyJet will drop its service from Belfast International to Southend from 6th January 2014. The removal of the route, billed as a twice-daily commuter service to London via the Essex seaside town, comes as the airline marks 15 years of flying from Belfast International.  EasyJet entered a 10-year partnership with Stobart Group to start flights to Belfast and other destinations from April 2012.  The Belfast route was marketed at commuters from Belfast to London who wished to avoid the hectic nature of the bigger London airports. Trains from a new station in Southend would reach central London in an hour. It cannot have been profitable.    Click here to view full story ….  but EasyJet is adding new flights from Belfast International to Jersey and Bordeaux.  Details.

Low flying Boeing 737 taking off full of fuel for Jeddah terrifies household in Southend

August 13, 2013

A family near Southend airport were left terrified after a plane loaded with enough aviation fuel to fly to the Middle East took off from the airport and narrowly missed roof tops. The white Boeing 737 jet took off for Jeddah at 3.20pm on Thursday 8th, and passed very close to two homes in Prince Avenue, Westcliff. Rresidents were very alarmed, and one reported that the plane appeared to be at an altitude of only some 250 feet, rather than the usual 450 feet. The plane had been at the airport for maintenance and was not carrying passengers. An elderly lady with heart problems was left very scared and alarmed, and continues to be anxious whenever planes come overhead (which easyJet planes do many times every day now). The airport said: “There were no safety concerns raised by air traffic regarding this flight and its routing complied with the airport’s noise requirements.”     Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport boss, Alistair Welch, quits – reason not disclosed

July 20, 2013

In a surprise announcement, managing director Alastair Welch, who has led Southend airport since before the Stobart Group bought it for £21 million in 2008, said he would leave at the end of July. Paying tribute to Mr Welch Stobart Group boss, Andrew Tinkler, said a team had been put in place to ensure the smooth running of the airport and its continued success. Roger Clements, who has been working for Stobart Air for some time, will take over as managing director in August, with David Lister as airport operations director and Graham Moorhouse as chief financial officer. Andrew Tinkler said: “The transformation of the airport has been led by Alastair Welch, who has been supported by a dedicated, hard-working team. Alastair has decided that, with the redevelopment of the airport all-but complete, the time is now right for him to move on to new challenges.” Mr Welch has overseen installation of a new control tower, railway station, runway extension and terminal, attracted EasyJet to use the airport, got a massive increase in passengers and flights, and the one millionth passenger. Mr Welch was “unavailable for comment.” Reason for his leaving not publicised nor information on his next move.     Click here to view full story…

Bigger terminal at revamped Southend Airport – now with increased numbers of Thomson and First Choice flights

June 5, 2013

Work is progressing on the Southend airport terminal extension, with sections opening in June, October, November and December. In addition to the easyJet flights, to some 12 holiday destinations, there are now also flights by Thomson and First Choice. These are expected to grow rapidly by next year. By summer 2014 Thomson and First Choice will be flying twice a week to Palma, and adding Ibiza to their schedule – tripling their service from Southend Airport in 12 months. The airport is selling its services on its fast processing of passengers, and it wants to attract many from the local catchment area, on grounds of convenience. The travel companies PR talks of …enhancing “the holiday experience for our customers.” Stage 1 of the Southend Airport terminal became operational a year ago and is some 100 metres from the new railway station. The airport hopes passenger numbers will grow to 2 million/ year by 2020. There is the usual hype about some 300 jobs being created. The unfortunate reality is that by encouraging more Brits to holiday abroad, and spend their holiday money abroad, the net effect is that jobs are lost from the local economy, and the UK economy.    Click here to view full story…

Over 1,000 claims for compensation from Southend Airport due to loss in value of homes, because of aircraft noise

June 5, 2013

Southend Airport – which has had a huge and very rapid rise in the number of aircraft using the airport over the past year – has received more than 1,000 claims for compensation over aircraft noise. Homeowners nearby are concerned that the airport is reducing the value of their properties, due to the noise. The airport has said it will honour residents’ compensation claims if it is proven their homes have lost value because of its activities. Jon Fuller, of local group SAEN (Stop Airport Expansion and Noise) said that estate agents are giving strong indications local residents must expect many thousands of pounds less than they expect when they sell their homes. Though house prices in the area are generally fairly buoyant, if houses are close to the airport or on the flight path prices are suppressed. The airport’s CEO, Alistair Welch said people can make a compensation claim up to a year after the new terminal is finished. Surveyors, Michael Marriott, who are helping people submit claims say they can only claim for nuisances arising from the use of the runway extension. Nuisances arising from the use of the airport which do not depend upon the extension will be disregarded.      Click here to view full story…

Southend residents urged to respond to the JAAP consultation that encourages expansion of the airport. Consultation April 2013

April 4, 2013

There was a JAAP (Joint Area Action Plan) consultation at Southend airport and its environs. The consultation started in February and ended on 10th April. The JAAP refered to a range of policies that support further expansion at the airport. The JAAP, once adopted, will form part of the Development Plan for Rochford District and Southend-on-Sea Borough. The council documents were not very clear, so local group SAEN (Stop Airport Expansion and Noise) advised residents how to respond. Some of the issues in the JAAP are that Southend Airport is surrounded on all sides by large numbers of houses, and local councils have done anything to limit or reduce the number of people who suffer from aircraft noise. Also that from the flights by EasyJet this year, the overwhelming majority of passengers are UK citizens who are travelling abroad, not foreign tourists attracted to the Southend area. Job claims were not credible and safety issues were questioned.    Click here to view full story…

Second planning application to extend the airport terminal 

19.2.2013      The airport applied on 3rd January 2013 for a second extension of the terminal building. Work is still going on to extend the terminal by 90 metres, in work applied for last year. This second application – which is expanding the airport by a process of “creep” – would be (it is claimed) for immigration checks, and would be 10 metres by 80 metres in size. There is currently no deadline date for comments, so these can still be submitted. The documents are difficult to access on the Rochford Borough Council website, with little effort being made to ensure the public can see and understand them. The application number is 12/00751/FUL and information can be see at terminal expansion application. One page of the main document can be seen at Second southend terminal application Jan 2013 By  extending the terminal in smaller stages, the airport is endeavouring to avoid the environmental checks that would be necessary for a larger application. See under Southend Airport News for more on the terminal.

EasyJet flights

EasyJet started its flights from Southend on 2nd April 2012.  

They say there will be 70 easyJet flights per week. They will start a ski flight to Geneva at the end of the year. The easyJet launch programme includes family destinations, city breaks and  a few business routes.

There will be 12 destinations,   Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Majorca (Palma) and Malaga.  There will also be two routes to Ireland by Aer Lingus, to Waterford and to Dublin.  Geneva will commence from December and Venice from February 2013.

Amsterdam is the most popular route to and from Southend. 

EasyJet say Southend is their 11th UK base, bringing 3 new A319s and “over 150 employees” to the airport. They expect over 800,000 passengers in the first year. 

Southend Airport: Payment on proven compensation claims

An airport has pledged to honour resident’s compensation claims if it is proven their properties in Essex have lost value because of its activities.  More than 1,000 people have issued claims against Southend International Airport where flights have increased.   Passenger numbers are climbing and have reached 700,000 in the past year bringing many extra flights.  Jon Fuller, of Stop Airport Expansion and Noise, said: “Estate agents are giving us very strong indications local residents must expect many thousands of pounds less than they expect when they sell their homes. House prices in this area are generally fairly buoyant but as soon as they are close to the airport or on the flight path prices are suppressed.” Mr Welch said: “People who believe they are entitled to compensation can make a claim up to a year after the new terminal is finished. “Each claim will be subjected to a detailed and thorough assessment. “But we will certainly meet our responsibilities if those claims are proven.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-22541999

Southend residents urged to respond to the JAAP consultation that encourages expansion of the airport

April 4, 2013

Southend and Rochford Councils are currently conducting a JAAP (Joint Area Action Plan) public consultation on Southend airport and its environs. The consultation has now been extended to 26th April.  The JAAP refers to a range of policies that support further expansion at the airport.   It is important that local people living in the vicinity of the airport respond, as they will be affected by proposed changes. The JAAP, once adopted, will form part of the Development Plan for Rochford District and Southend-on-Sea Borough. The council documents and process are not very clear, so local group SAEN (Stop Airport Expansion and Noise) are advising residents how to respond. Some of the issues in the JAAP are that Southend Airport is surrounded on all sides by large numbers of houses, and local councils have done nothing to limit or reduce the number of people who suffer from aircraft noise. Safety issues associated with the public safety zones have also been identified. The claim that expansion at the airport is creating jobs is also challenged. In the first year of operation it has become clear that the overwhelming majority of passengers are UK citizens who are travelling abroad, not foreign tourists attracted to the Southend area. The most popular destination offered by easyJet is Amsterdam, which is attracting entirely new passengers, sucking ever more money out of the Essex/London economy. The job creation claims are not credible and have been exposed as such.   Click here to view full story…

950 homeowners seeking compensation from Southend Airport

21st March 2013

ST 1,000 homeowners have submitted compensation claims to Southend Airport for a loss of value to their homes – with hundreds more expected. Surveyors submitted at least 950 claims from people who believe the extension of the airport’s runway has cut their house price in the first week since applications opened. hartered surveyor Michael Marriott, who submitted more than 650 claims on Monday and is preparing to hand in about 50 more, said: “It’s quite evident that there is a significant number of people who are feeling aggrieved enough to make a claim. The airport has to compensate householders who can prove an increase in noise, vibration, dust, smell, light pollution, discharge or fumes as a result of the airport’s expansion has devalued their homes, under a law called the Land Compensation Act. Applications opened on March 9, the day after the anniversary of the runway extension opening. Click here to read full article …

EasyJet launches new route from Southend to Newquay

6.12.2012     easyJet has announced that it will be further expanding its route offering from  Southend Airport with a new service to Newquay, from Summer 2013. The new 3 times weekly service which departs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays is expected to attract almost 10,000 passengers each year with the inaugural flight taking off from Southend Airport on 20 June 2013.  It talks about this fast connection to the “English Riviera” and its great beaches, restaurants and attractions.  Fares start from £30.99 per person (including taxes) based on two passengers flying on the same booking. “We are sure Newquay is going to prove popular with Essex travellers for both short breaks and longer staycations – not just for its surfing, but also for the simple and easy access it provides to the much admired Cornish coast.  EasyJet has also announced new services to Krakow and Berlin  launching June,2013 bringing the number of routes served from London Southend Airport to 14.    Click here to view full article …..

London Southend Airport to begin terminal extension in November

October 29, 2012

Southend airport is set to begin a €12m terminal extension project in early November 2012. The process will be in three phases. The first phase will be construction of a new arrivals facility with completion scheduled by the end of May 2013. Completion of the project will see expansion of the terminal building to 90m long, a rise in number of check-in desks/baggage drop off points and adding space for passengers in security. The Departure Lounge will be expanded and there will be changes in Arrivals. The airport anticipates the final phase to be finished ahead of Christmas 2013. They hope the number of passengers will top 2 million by 2020.    Click here to view full story…

Passengers up 60% at Southend Airport in May compared to April

21st June 2012   Southend Airport is continuing to rise.  The latest statistics published by the CAA show 66,700 people flew via the airport during May. The figure is a marked increase on April’s total of 41,600 – the first month of easyJet flights. Meanwhile, passenger numbers for the same destinations from Stansted fell by more than 40,800 in May (even more than in April – below). Alastair Welch, Southend Airport’s managing director, said their target remains to reach two million passengers a year by 2020. EasyJet began flights from Southend to Barcelona, Belfast and Amsterdam on April 2, alongside existing Aer Arann fights to Waterford, Ireland.  Two days later, flights to Alicante and Faro were added, and routes to Malaga, Mallorca, Ibiza and Jersey followed at the end of the month. Aer Arann’s new flights to Dublin, which launched on May 10, attracted nearly 3,500 passengers. In comparison, the number of people using Stansted’s flights to the Irish capital fell by more than 5,500.  Details …

Passengers choose Southend over rival

18.5.2012

London Southend Airport terminal extension approved

April 23, 2012

Southend airport has been granted approval for the extension of its terminal building by Rochford Council. There will also be five more aircraft stands. Despite strong opposition, only one member of the public was permitted to speak against the application. Only two councillors voted against. Work on the extension will start later this year. The new terminal was opened in March, but the extension will add another 90 metes to it, more than doubling its size, with more check-in desks and baggage drop off points. more security screening channels, larger arrivals and departures lounges, more retail etc. It has emerged that Anglian Water were not informed of the application. SAEN understands that the water company is less than happy, as the new terminal as it stands was only just approved as it took the sewage system up to 100% capacity. The extension will exceed capacity. he airport is looking at 6 million passengers per year by 2020, rather than the 2 million previously anticipated.    Click here to view full story…

EasyJet announce new route to Venice from Southend airport

20.4.2012      EasyJet has today announced that it will begin operating a new route from London Southend Airport to Venice – the first Italian route from the new airport. Venice will take the total number of destinations from the airline’s newest base to five European countries and two domestic routes. The first is on  8 February 2013.  easyJet currently operate more than 70 flights a week from London Southend to nine destinations across Europe from Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Majorca and Malaga. Geneva will commence from this autumn.  link 

London Gateway port development – to open in 2013 – a few miles west of Southend

April 20, 2012    Opening in the fourth quarter of 2013, London Gateway is set to become the premier UK logistics centre. When fully developed London Gateway port will handle 3.5 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) annually and the adjacent logistics park will be the largest in Europe. It is about 4 miles south of Basildon and about 7 miles west of Southend on Sea. DP World is a company based in Dubai. There is likely to be a connection between Stobart buying Southend airport, and the new mega-port close by.    Click here to view full story…

EasyJet flights from Southend to 9 destinations start on 2nd April

March 26, 2012     EasyJet starts its flights from Southend on 2nd April. They say there will be 70 easyJet flights per week. They will start a ski flight to Geneva at the end of the year. The easyJet launch programme includes family destinations, city breaks and a few business routes. There will be 9 destinations, rising to 10 with the addition of Geneva. Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona Berlin, Faro, Ibiza, Jersey, Majorca and Malaga. Amsterdam is proving the most popular route to and from Southend. There will also be two routes to Ireland by Aer Lingus, to Waterford and to Dublin. EasyJet say Southend is their 11th UK base, bringing 3 new A319s and “over 150 employees” to the airport. They expect over 800,000 passengers in the first year.    Click here to view full story…

Opening of Southend Airport’s new terminal and runway extension

March 5, 2012     On 5th March Southend held its official opening of its new terminal building, and of its runway extension that is now completed. Local opponents fought a long and hard battle against the runway extension. At present the airport has just one destination airport – Waterford in Ireland. On 2nd April, easyJet flights to bucket-and-spade Spanish destinations start (Malaga, Ibiza and Mallorca) taking tourists and their money out of the UK. There will be 20-30 passenger daily flights this year, but Stobart hopes to eventually carry up to 2 million passengers annually and plans to extend the terminal further this summer. easyJet came to Southend due to cheaper landing charges than at Stansted. Some passengers will find the empty terminal and the easy train journey from London’s Liverpool Street easier than a trip to Stansted or Luton. Alistair Welch, the CEO, says he expects there to be 500 jobs created at the airport this year. 500? Click here to view full story…

Planning applications at Southend Airport, including terminal extension and new carpark

Date added: March 1, 2012

There are currently three airport-related planning applications being considered relating to Southend Airport. A proposed extension to the brand new terminal is Phase 2, and would see the terminal building becoming 90 metres longer. The number of check in desks / baggage drop off points will increase, as will the amount of security screening channels. The Departure Lounge and the Arrivals area will be enlarged. Also an enhanced baggage reclaim facilities, a larger immigration area, and more retail and catering. There is also a speculative application by a local builder, to make money out of his land as a car park. And it has been noticed that Stansted staff are needing homes to rent, while being relocated to Southend. So much for more local jobs. Click here to view full story…

Southend Tory MPs line up to fight estuary airport proposals

January 20, 2012    Two MPs have publicly opposed plans for the estuary airport. Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and James Duddridge MP for Rochford and Southend East, fear the plan would be detrimental to south Essex. Mrs Harris, who met with London mayor Boris Johnson before Christmas, said: “I will be opposing anything which would spoil the tranquillity of my constituency. Mr Duddridge added: “I do not think this airport is right, sensible, realistic or deliverable.”  [However, the worrying feature is that some in Southend want to press for expansion instead at Manston, which would be deeply unacceptable to people there. This sort of passing the buck is not sensible, and does nobody any favours] . Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport announce 5-year deal with bankrupt Aer Arann

13th October 2010          

Southend Airport says they have hopes for a new deal secured with a low cost
airline. The 5 year contract with Aer Arann will create a number of routes between
Southend and Ireland. The details of the routes were being finalised but an announcement
would be made shortly. The airline hopes it will carry 300,000 passengers starting
in March. Aer Aran entered bankruptcy protection in August after suffering losses
of 18m euros since 2008. (BBC)         Click here to view full story…

Southend gets award obtainig planning permission for a runway extension without a public enquiry

 28th September 2010      

Just that. Amazing. Not a joke. “This achievement was deemed by the judges to
have fundamental and long lasting effects on air transport in the region, which
would greatly enhance the airport’s business and result in increased services
for the community when it is completed in 2011.”   Click here to view full story… 

Southend Council taken to court over runway extension planning permission

Southend Airport expansion says it is ‘on target for 2012’

29th June 2010    

At Southend airport,  the new railway station, with trains to Liverpool Street,
is nearing completion. The new control tower is due to be operational by February.
Plans for a 129-bedroom hotel at the airport have been “unveiled”, and the airport
is hoping to cash in on Olympic traffic in 2012. Roadworks to divert Eastwoodbury
Lane to make way for the extended runway will begin in the autumn, and plans for
the new terminal building are starting. (Echo)         Click here to view full story…

SAEN are asking Southend Council to support night flight ban

11th June 2010       There is a full council meeting of Southend Borough Council on Thursday 17th
June at which SAEN understand that a possible night flight ban may be discussed.
However, this would most likely be for a short period of the night – probably
3 hours. This does no-one any good as it will simply push flights into the remaining
part of the night when people will still want uninterrupted sleep. SAEN are encouraging
people in the area to write to councillors before 17th.           Click here to view full story…

Eddie Stobart to take to the skies from Southend

Southend: The camp, the bling and a cat called Ginger

22nd March 2010      

Plane Stupid reports. Last week, without any fanfare or proper consultation Southend
declared that they would be expanding their airport. For a flavour of what might
be in wait for the airport, here is the story of a cat, a king, and a camp called
Bling… For 3 weeks, to prevent trees being destroyed, Cuckoo Corner was occupied
24/7 holding off the chainsaws and building a small but sturdy activist centre.
Southend council has viciously taken 12 to court.       Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport expansion gets go-ahead from Government

19th March 2010        

 The government has approved plans for a runway extension at Southend. John Denham
claimed the right to a final say on the extension earlier this year, and could
have called for a public inquiry on the decision made by Southend Council planners.
Opponents are concerned about a rise in passenger numbers to 2m a year and the
adverse environmental effect on the Southend area. The council, as usual, were
persuaded the airport would bring much needed jobs. (BBC)         Click here to view full story…

Southend Council wins order to evict Camp Cuckoo protesters

18th March 2010

 Up to 17 members of Saxon King In Priory Park and Parklife are camping out on
land by the roundabout, which the council is planning to clear to widen the road
and have called for more people to join them. Southend Council has been granted
an order to evict protesters from the camp. Many mature trees have already been
felled to make way for road expansion, part of which is to ease access to the
airport.       Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport Joint Area Action Plan meeting postponed

Stobart plans Southend airport expansion

23rd January 2010     

 Stobart Group said it hoped the government would make a swift decision on its
plan to expand Southend airport after it received local council approval earlier
in the week. Stobart branched out into aviation in December 2008 by buying Southend
airport in a deal worth up to £21m. It envisages increasing the number of passengers
from 48,000 in 2008 to 2m in 2019. For this to happen, by extending the runway
to allow larger aircraft to take off and land. (FT)       Click here to view full story…

Southend runway extension given go-ahead

Southend Airport plan: Government intervenes with Article 14 Direction

Huge opposition to Southend airport expansion revealed

6th November 2009        

Southend campaigners have succeeded in forcing Rochford District Council to release
figures on its consultation on expanding the airport. The council refused to release
figures, but following a FoI request by the local group, SAEN, the Information
Commissioner ruled that the Council must publish the result. It shows that 77%
had objections to the Joint Area Action Plan with 76 % specifically opposing the
runway extension. (SAEN)         Click here to view full story…

Controversy Over Stobart’s Southend Airport Truck and Rail Freight Plans

23rd October 2009        

 Stobart’s plans for the redevelopment of Southend airport have come under fresh
criticism as new questions were raised by local residents on whether the company’s
proposed plans are actually their true intention. Some residents feel Stobart
has little interest in using Southend for flight operations, freight or otherwise,
but as a new hub for its multi modal business. The airport is cheap land on which
to build a road and rail depot. Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport expansion plans submitted

17th October 2009        

 Southend has submitted an application to Southend Council to extend the runway
from 1605 metres to 1905, which will allow larger planes to carry business and
leisure passengers to destinations all over Europe. If approved, the runway could
be operational in 2011, in time for the Olympics. As well as the runway, the application
is for a new terminal and diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane. It is expected to cost
in the region of £30-40 million. (UK Airport News)         Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport agree flights cap

10.10.09         New controls on flights at Southend Airport have been agreed by
its owner and local councils. A new runway and transport links are being developed
at the airport by the Eddie Stobart transport group. Proposed night flights have
been cut from 900 to 120 a month after an agreement was reached between the company
and Southend and Rochford councils. Maximum yearly flights are to be capped at
53,000 and the definition of night-time for flights will be from 23:00 to 06:30.
Talks are reported to be under way with a number of airlines to launch new passenger
services when the airport becomes fully operational.   (UK Airport News) Link to story

Southend Airport agreement is a scandal say Lib Dems

 9th October 2009     

  THE new deal between Southend Airport and local councils on the number of night
flights and other operational details fails to answer many concerns, according
to an opposition councillor. New measures have been agreed with the ruling Conservatives on Southend and Rochford District councils, without consulting others. The deal contains some restrictions on the airport’s future operations, but they are not
stringent, and do not satisfy opponents.         Click here to view full story…

Conservative MP calls for council to back Southend Airport

 25th July 2009        

James Duddridge MP [Conservative – for Rochford & Southend East] told the
Commons that councillors should back the expansion of Southend Airport rather
than worrying about political point-scoring. He was speaking in the adjournment
debate. He opposed the 3rd runway at Heathrow and also the proposals for an airport
in the Thames Estuary, known as Heathrow-on-Sea or Boris Island, but he fully
supports the expansion of Southend.(UK Airport News)         Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport expansion plan could be in jeopardy

 26th May 2009   Expansion plans for Southend Airport could be in jeopardy, as council bosses
are set to abandon its support for the scheme. There have been thousands of objections
to the Joint Area Action Plan consultation, which proposes a major expansion of
the airport, together with the runway extension across Eastwoodbury Lane. There
have been packed public meetings, and the councils now realise that it could be
political suicide to support expansion. (Echo)     Click here to view full story…

Southend – Councils decide to support airport expansion scheme

17th February 2009         A combined report by Rochford and Southend councils says: &lquot;The preferred option
is to support the airport’s growth through an extension of the runway, together
with the development of a new railway station, terminal and aircraft handling
facilities. It is not considered desirable for the airport to handle significant
volumes of freight due to its location and the pressure on the local road network.
[Claims of jobs created should be treated with caution].     (Southend Echo)Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport Joint Area Action Plan – launch of consultation on preferred
options

 16th February 2009         Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council are in the process of
preparing a planning framework to guide development at London Southend Airport
and the neighbouring employment areas. The councils have published their ‘Preferred
Option’ for the development of the area which is now ready for a further consultation
period, which closes on 27th March. The final version of the JAAP will be submitted
to the Government during summer 2009. (Southend)           Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport based charter company goes bust

05.12.08      Southend airport  based aircraft charter company Flightline Limited
has called in administrators and ceased trading. The failure of the company has
resulted in the loss of more than 200 jobs.     The company specialised in providing
whole aircraft charters. Administrators from KPMG were appointed yesterday and
the company’s Air Operating Certificate was suspended by the CAA.     From UK Airport News

Stobart to buy Southend Airport for £21m

2.12.2008     “Stobart announces that it has conditionally agreed to acquire London
Southend Airport (‘Southend Airport’) from Regional Airports Limited (‘RAL’) for
a maximum consideration of £21.0 million, of which £5.0 million will be due on
achievement of certain aspects of the airport’s development (the ‘Acquisition’).
Stobart also announces an associated conditional placing of £11.5 million. The
initial consideration of £16.0 million will be satisfied from the placing proceeds
and a vendor loan note of £6.0 million. The Acquisition is conditional upon Admission
of the Consideration shares.  “

09.11.08           Transport firm Stobart has announced plans to buy Southend Airport for £21m, much less than the £55m suggested last month. The airport, which is less than an hour from London by train, is
to operate passenger flights across the UK and Europe alongside Stobart’s air
freight operations.   Stobart chief executive Andrew Tinkler said the group had
conditionally agreed to buy Southend Airport from Regional Airports Limited (RAL)
for a maximum £21m. The group will implement plans for the site, including construction
of a new railway station, ‘as soon as possible’.           From UK Airport News

Bigger airport means ‘more noise for Leigh’

23rd September 2008         More than 200 people attended a meeting organised by the local branch of Friends
of the Earth to draw up battle lines against the expansion, and to form a new
committee to fight it. The larger airport, which could mean the demolition of
some houses, is expected to cater for two million passengers a year, which equates
to 40 flights a day. While there are restrictions on night passenger flights,
there are none on night freight flights. (Echo)

Click here to view full story…

News stories from the SAEN website, media page:

Stobart to buy Southend Airport for £21m 

Southend Airport sale claims quashed

Seven shortlisted in Southend Airport sale16.03.08

London City launches bid for Southend

Southend Airport for sale

Other stories:

Financial Times story –   “ Southend airport up for sale”     28.1.2008  

Ambitious Southend airport seeks cash injection   (28.1.2008     (Flightmapping)

All articles in reverse date order

Gatwick expansion DCO inquiry begins – and will last for 6 months

Date added: 28 February, 2024

The inquiry, by the Planning Inspectorate, into the DCO concerning Gatwick Airport's plan to use its emergency runway for routine flights started with an open session, and many people - both in favour of the plan, and against, allowed a brief time to speak.  All those in favour were businesses, or business groups - or people in some way linked to the airport, and hoping its expansion would be good for their business in the short to medium term, and perhaps provide more good jobs. Those against were local councils and local residents who - with passion - put forward the range of negative impacts that the expansion would bring.  Those would include the climate impacts of thousands more tonnes of CO2 per year; surface transport impacts; air pollution; noise pollution, especially at night; and social impacts of the pressure on local infrastructure, from many more workers at the airport, and many more air passengers. The inquiry is being held in Crawley, and is due to last six months.  The submissions gave the impression that the businesses only looked at possible economic benefits, giving no consideration to local residents, or the environment - in the short or long term.

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Heathrow new CEO likely to want expansion in numbers, but no new runway

Date added: 26 February, 2024

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s new chief executive, is understood to have begun disbanding the 3rd runway team, and the airport's runway plans have been shelved, as leaked details of the airport’s “better not bigger” strategy can be revealed.  Woldbye is instead understood to be exploring how to squeeze millions more passengers through the airport without expanding its footprint.  This comes with Heathrow’s Spanish owner Ferrovial facing a protracted process to sell its stake to a Saudi-backed consortium for £2.4 billion.  It is believed that a new Heathrow team is pulling together plans under the internal strapline of “better not bigger”, which was originally coined by anti-expansion campaigners. Leaked details of the plans reveal that annual passenger numbers could hit 96 million by 2036, up from the record 80.9 million in 2019, if all of its initiatives can be realised. A “core” case is understood to forecast a rise to 86 million passengers. One way to increase passenger numbers is to make more efficient use of the runway so that planes could take off and land closer together. They will also want to increase Heathrow’s annual flight cap from 480,000 to 505,000, though this would require government consent.

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Southampton Airport wants to cut down some trees, and cut the tops off others

Date added: 18 February, 2024

Southampton Airport wants to cut off the tops of 25 trees in a 200-year-old woodland, Marlhill Copse, on grounds of aircraft safety.  But the bid is set to be thrown out by city development chiefs, as it will harm the conservation area.  However, a second application to remove 15 trees in the same woodland is recommended to approve the cutting down of 14 of them.  In October 2023, Southampton City Council received the planning application from the airport which outlined its plan to reduce the tops of 24 individual trees and one group of broadleaf trees within Marlhill Copse in Bitterne Park, on the southern side of the airport over the M27.  According to the report by officers recommending refusal, the reduction in height of the 25 trees included one oak by more than 13 metres, another by 12, metres and one Douglas Fir by more than 10 metres. The airport said the work related to the Civil Aviation Act, which gives the secretary of state powers to make direct orders restricting the height of trees; however, the order hasn’t been received, meaning the application had to proceed via the usual council’s planning process.  The council’s planning committee is set to decide both applications on February 20th. 

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Even with government money, Cardiff airport continues to make a loss

Date added: 16 February, 2024

Cardiff Airport is continuing to make a loss as it struggles to attract passengers back to pre-pandemic levels.  It lost £4.5m in the year to March 2023 according to company accounts, after receiving a government grant of £5.3m. The company, which is owned by the Welsh government, is hoping to make more use of its land to raise money.Welsh government ministers are currently supporting the airport through a grant worth £42.6m over four years. Over the years it has received millions in government loans. In 2021 Labour ministers wrote off a £42.6m loan they had given the airport, leaving it to repay £26.3m by 2045. The number of  passengers using the airport in the year up to March 2023 was only 58% of the number using it before Covid. 

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Jenny Dawes granted permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the dismissal of her application for judicial review of the 2nd Manston Airport DCO.

Date added: 12 February, 2024

On 7 February 2024, the Rt Hon Lord Justice Warby granted Jenny Dawes permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the dismissal of her judicial review application challenging the decision of the Secretary of State to make a development consent order (DCO) for the re-opening of Manston Airport.  In his Order, Lord Justice Warby reasoned that certain aspects of the High Court decision warranted appellate scrutiny and that the remaining arguments relating to "need' were properly arguable with a reasonable prospect of success.  Those pushing for the re-opening of the airport claim that something that could be seen as "critical infrastructure" should not be delayed by legal challenge. In fact, there are serious questions about the "need" for this airport. In 2019 the Examining Authority ultimately concluding that a DCO (Development Consent Order) should not be granted as there was no need for it, with other factors also weighed against the development, including climate change.  As well as the need argument, the impact on Manston of the potential growth of other London airports must be considered.

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Andrew Boswell’s legal case, needing the emissions from future use of infrastructure, could be vital

Date added: 12 February, 2024

Environmental campaigner and retired scientist, Andrew Boswell, is challenging the granting of development consent for 3 major road building schemes near Norwich. The latest challenge in the ongoing case was heard in the Court of Appeal on 16th January.  The case is about the need for new infrastructure schemes, such as roads or airports, to have the increased carbon emissions from their operation taken into account, not merely the carbon from their construction - which is the current legal position.  Andrew Boswell claims former transport secretaries Grant Shapps and Anne-Marie Trevelyan’s allowing the schemes was unlawful as the DfT and National Highways failed to properly consider their cumulative emissions impact. His first  challenge to the granting of DCOs was heard in the High Court last May, then subsequently dismissed by Justice Thornton in July 2023. He was later granted permission by the Court of Appeal on 18 October, with the Judge noting that Boswell’s case “has a real prospect of success” and acknowledging that “assessment of combined carbon emissions has potentially wide implications”. A date for the outcome of the Appeal Court hearing has not yet been determined.

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How Carlyle’s bet on unsuccessful Southend airport did not work out

Date added: 11 February, 2024

Southend airport, barely used now, is at the centre of an escalating dispute between one of the world’s largest private equity groups and an impoverished infrastructure company.  The $426bn investment firm Carlyle Group is demanding the early repayment of a £125mn loan made to the airport in 2021, when the aviation industry was reeling from international travel restrictions due to Covid.  Carlyle says it has made multiple attempts to resolve the conflict with Southend airport’s London-listed owner, Esken, and that the airport has breached the terms of the loan on multiple occasions. Known as Stobart Group until a rebranding in 2021, Esken emerged in 2007. Among its first deals was the bet on Southend Airport, which it bought in a 2008 agreement worth around £21mn. The airport was doing reasonably well until Covid, but then cash-strapped airlines consolidated around larger hubs, every airline left.  It cannot attract airlines. Nor can Esken's other airport, Carlisle. Esken wants to sell Southend and repay shareholders.  Southend was never likely to succeed in getting many passengers.

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Schiphol Airport’s new report demands a reduction of aviation demand, to cut CO2 emissions

Date added: 8 February, 2024

On 24th Schiphol airport published new research, showing the need for a strong reduction of air traffic demand in order to halt climate heating. The airport proposes the ‘Polluter pays’ principle, with measures such as a worldwide kerosene tax and a tax for business class and private flights.  Schiphol’s research showed that at least a 30% CO2 reduction (when compared to 2019) is needed for Schiphol and European aviation to be on track in 2030. That’s more than the current Dutch goal of a 9% reduction. The research was commissioned by Schiphol to investigate what is needed in order to bring its CO2 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, and it explains why “technological breakthroughs will come too late” and so-called “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” production has limits. It concludes that: “Demand management measures are necessary to align the aviation sector with the goals of the Paris Agreement.” One of the measures proposed is to convert the Dutch air passenger tax to a distance-based tax, and it should include long haul flights - which make up about 80% of emissions. Several other measures include expanding the European ETS to long haul flights.

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East Midlands Airport face criminal charges for River Trent pollution

Date added: 3 February, 2024

Multiple criminal charges are being brought against East Midlands Airport Ltd by the Environment Agency for pollution entering the river system surrounding the airport. The prosecution follows a sustained campaign by the Derby Railway Angling Club, who have been working with Fish Legal to highlight chronic pollution of the Diseworth Brook and River Trent linked to discharges of de-icer used on aircraft and runways at the airport. East Midlands Airport Ltd is legally required to comply with an environmental permit issued by the Environment Agency for discharges of contaminated drainage water and provide data to the regulator to assess the impact of pollution coming from the airport on river water quality. The charges being brought relate to permit breaches and discharges of contaminated site drainage that took place in 2021 and 2022. The fishing organisations want revisions to the airport's permit to better control emissions of polluting de-icers into nearby rivers and for investment to raise standards of treatment of contaminated water from the site in line with other airports.

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Huge new airport planned near Warsaw, for up to 100 million annual passengers

Date added: 29 January, 2024

Poland is planning a £7 billion new airport, about 25 miles west of Warsaw, that will be central and eastern Europe's biggest ever transport project.  Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) - which translates as 'central communication port' - has not yet had full construction permissions.  The first phase of building will be 2 runways and a terminal for up to 40 million passengers annually, due to be completed in 2028. They then want 2 more runways, to eventually handle 100 million passengers annually.  It aims to link air, rail and road transport and sprawl over ​​approximately 3,000 hectares.  Deputy minister Marcin Horala said: "It involves phasing the construction according to the current market needs."  Approvals have been granted in recent months by Polish ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority and the next stage is to be granted approval for a decision on location and a building permit. Various sites had been considered, 20 years ago. Now Wikipedia says "the land for the airport was first acquired under the Voluntary Acquisition Program. By the time the program ends (April 7, 2023), over 1,300 owners have registered with plots with a total area of ​​almost 3,550 ha, which is 80% of the area for the construction of the airport".

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