Stobart News
Stobart Air has announced it will discontinue the Dublin to Southend route with effect from the 30th March. The route has been operated by Flybe, on behalf of Stobart, using Embraer E-190 aircraft. The announcement comes as Ryanair are about to open a base at Southend and will begin operating a twice daily service to Dublin. The Southend base will have 3 based aircraft and 13 new routes, including Alicante, Barcelona Reus, Bilbao, Brest, Corfu, Cluj, Dublin, Faro, Kosice, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Palma and Venice. Due to the short runway and steep approaches, operations at the airport will be limited to B737 Short Field Performance (SFP) aircraft, EI-FZX and later. Southend Airport is owned by the Stobart Group.
Stobart Air will cease the London Southend – Dublin route on 30th March, Ryanair will take up the route on 2nd April
Carlisle Lake District Airport
Stobart Group, also owns Carlisle Lake District Airport, which has undergone a major redevelopment by the Group over the last few years. It was due to reopen to commercial air services last year but this was delayed due to issues with staffing the control tower. However Loganair has just announced that it will launch flights from 4th July including destinations Southend (3 pw), Belfast and Dublin (5 pw each) with a Saab 340B. There are no flights scheduled on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
For the Summer 2019 schedule, KLM is leasing a Stobart Air Embraer E195 aircraft to support its operation. According to Routes Online it will operate the following sectors:
- Amsterdam – Basel/Mulhouse eff 06APR19 1 weekly (Except July/August 2019)
- Amsterdam – Brussels eff 31MAR19 1 weekly
- Amsterdam – Dublin eff 31MAR19 2 daily
- Amsterdam – Norwich eff 01APR19 1 daily
- Amsterdam – Oslo eff 31MAR19 6 weekly (7 weekly in July/August 2019)
Durham Tees Valley Airport
Stobart Group has been revealed as the operator of Durham Tees Valley Airport following a decision by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen to return it to public ownership. The announcement means that Stobart Group will be responsible for the oversight and strategic development of the airport, and to implement a 10-year rescue plan to increase passenger numbers to 1.4 million, secure a low cost carrier by 2022, and drive the creation of 7,600 jobs.
At a joint press conference hosted at Durham Tees Valley Airport, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said “We have been in discussions with Stobart for quite some time and have worked together on our 10-year rescue plan that will help us see the airport become the success we know it can be.
“Stobart is a huge company with significant experience, knowledge and expertise in the aviation sector. They’re no stranger to turning around airports – just look at what they have achieved at London Southend and Carlisle Lake District Airport.
“Stobart will hold a minority share in our airport with a clear and overwhelming incentive to turn it around. They have the experience, credibility and relationships with airlines to make Teesside fly again and they’re the right partner for Teesside.
Main photo above by Brendan O’Moore
About the Author
Mark Dwyer Mark is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 737 for a major European airline. In addition he is also a Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner and Base Training Captain on the B737. Outside of commercial flying Mark enjoys flying light aircraft from the smallest 3 Axis microlights up to heavier singles. He is also an instructor and EASA Examiner on single engines and a UK CAA Examiner. He flies the Chipmunk for the Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF). Mark became the Chairman of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI) in 2013 and has overseen a massive growth in the organisation. In this role he has worked at local and national levels. In 2015, Mark won ‘Upcoming Aviation Professional Award’ at the Aviation Industry Awards sponsored by the IAA. Mark launched this website back in 2002 while always managing the website, he has also been Editor and Deputy Editor of FlyingInIreland Magazine from 2005 to 2015.
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