For Immediate Release
SAEN[1] has today learned that easyJet is ‘unlikely to fly to and from’ Southend Airport.
David McLaren, an easyJet employee, made the statement on the customer feedback website Get Satisfaction[2] in response to a customer suggestion made in July for them to operate services between Southend and Berlin.
In the statement, Mr McLaren says:
“As easyJet already service 3 London airports, which are more centrally located than Southend airport, it is unlikely that we will fly to and from this airport once the modernisation is finished. Also, easyJet does already fly from Berlin to both London, Gatwick and London, Luton a number of times daily.”
Evidence that Southend will be unable to attract passenger operators has been mounting for some time, particularly with the news in April that Stobart was contemplating setting up its own airline. SAEN has long argued that Southend Airport is unsuitable as a passenger airport of the scale proposed by Stobart due to its relatively inaccessible location and proximity to population centres.
This could be a sign that SAEN’s previous assertion that Stobart’s real aim for Southend Airport was primarily freight-oriented. However, SAEN maintains that the best use of the airport is for plane maintenance and repair and flying clubs as these uses provide jobs while not putting an undue burden on the local road network.
ENDS.
Notes to Editors
- Stop Airport Extension Now Ltd. (SAEN) was formed to campaign against the runway extension at Southend Airport. The group is not opposed to the Airport itself, which has co-existed with the residents of Southend for many years. SAEN is against the runway extension, which would lead to a massive increase in flights and destroy the lives of the people living, working or going to school anywhere near the flightpath. Stop Airport Extension Now Ltd is a Member Based Company Limited by Financial Guarantee.
- The statement is available at: http://getsatisfaction.com/easyjet/topics/london_southend_airport_potential
For further information:
- Contact Denis Walker, Press Officer for Stop Airport Extension Now
- Visit the SAEN website – http://saen.org.uk/
Well, today at Southend airport, there are two Stobart trucks and an Easyjet plane with a helicopter flying above them taking publicity photos.
I would say the chances of Easyjet using Southend in the very near future is quite high!!
You’re wrong again Denis, what do you know about the aviation industry? Not a lot, perhaps you would be kind enough to correct your over innacuracies. meanwhile I’ll hold this against you in the future.
We published a story based on what EasyJet themselves said. Kindly explain how this makes us wrong.
If it turns out that EasyJet do start offering flights from Southend, it’s David McLaren that will have been wrong.
‘Evidence that Southend will be unable to attract passenger operators has been mounting for some time, particularly with the news in April that Stobart was contemplating setting up its own airline..
This could be a sign that SAEN’s previous assertion that Stobart’s real aim for Southend Airport was primarily freight-oriented. However, SAEN maintains that the best use of the airport is for plane maintenance and repair and flying clubs as these uses provide jobs while not putting an undue burden on the local road network.’
That’s wrong? Isn’t it. And you failed to recognised when the post by the employee was removed.
No, it’s our interpretation based in the information available at the time.
“EasyJet employee removes post from website” isn’t exactly a newsworthy press release and content on our website has a datestamp.