The Stobart Group also own Carlisle Airport and have been talking about running an air service between Carlisle and Southend.

In Alan Stratford and Associates’ report on Carlisle Airport, we find the following:

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5.3 Linkages with Southend Airport

On 1^st December 2008, the Stobart Group announced that it had conditionally agreed to acquire London Southend Airport for a maximum consideration of £21.0m of which £5.0m will be due on achievement of certain aspects of the airport’s development.

The acquisition of Southend does indicate the Stobart Group intentions to expand its aviation activities. The airport is currently profitable, although this is achieved from property rental income from tenants on the airport site eg aircraft maintenance, light engineering etc, rather than from aeronautical revenue.

Whilst there may be linkages between Carlisle and Southend for air freight services (which are not so time-constrained), we do not believe that passenger services between the two airports will be commercially viable due to the relatively small catchment areas of both airports. Whilst we believe that a route between Carlisle and Southend is unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term, any possible commercial viability will be dependent on the construction of the proposed rail station at Southend Airport to provide a link into London Liverpool Street Station.