Efficiency is key to the haulage firm’s way of running airport (From Southend Standard)
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Efficiency is key to the haulage firm’s way of running airport
11:00am Sunday 11th March 2012 in Southend
Investment – inside the new terminal building
A SENSE of pride emanates from William Stobart as he surveys Southend Airport’s new £10million terminal.
The 49-year-old chief operating officer of Stobart Group has overseen the aviation equivalent of the Industrial Revolution since his firm bought the airport four years ago.
Back then, it was little more than a haven for amateur flying enthusiasts and cargo flights.
Now, with more than £100million invested in new infrastructure and commercial airlines queuing up to take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities, it is a different story.
He said: “I was always confident we could make a difference here. We had a vision for what we wanted to do and we have gone out and done that.”
Stobart stunned the aviation industry when it stumped up £21million for the airport in December 2008.
At the time, many experts predicted Global Infrastructure Partners, the owner of London City Airport, would be the buyer. Stobart, known for its haulage business, had no history in aviation and no track record of success.
But Mr Stobart, the son of the firm’s iconic founder, Eddie, was confident it could take on the challenge.
He said: “When you look at airports all around the world, all you see is inefficiency.
“We wanted to change that. We wanted to take the principles of what we do now and use that in Southend.
“We have 2,500 trucks on the road. More than ninety-nine per cent of those deliveries are on time. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t get the business.
“We asked ourselves: ‘Why couldn’t that be done with airports?’, and the answer is it could.”
The stamp of Stobart efficiency can be seen all over the rejevunated airport.
It is fewer than 100 paces from the new £15million railway station to the terminal entrance.
Bosses have promised it will take no longer than four minutes for customers to clear security checks, and no more than 15 minutes for arriving passengers to go from “plane to train”.
Those figures have been backed up by trials, although they will be tested more seriously when easyJet starts the first of 70 flights a week on April 2.
Those routes will be followed by the start of flights to Dublin on May 10, via Irish airline Aer Lingus Regional, with connections to the US on Aer Lingus’s transatlantic services.
Mr Stobart is confident they will be a success. He said: “I think easyJet were attracted by what we have built here.
“We wanted to be efficient, but also to offer convenience to our passengers.
“People don’t want to be standing around in the airport any more than we want them to be. That’s what we’re selling to people.”
The Stobart vision may be revolutionary, but it is one that is shared by the people guiding the airport on a day-to-day basis.
Alastair Welch, the managing director, has previously said he has “never wanted to stick with what I have. I always want to take it on to the next level, to see how it could be improved”.
That mantra has steered him through the sometimes turbulent waters of the airport’s expansion programme, which started more than two years ago.
He said: “I think one of the most satisfying things is the support we have received from the community.
“We’ve tried to deal with them on a personal level, so we can address any worries they might have.
“I hope they can see this is their airport – it is Southend’s airport. We are part of that community.”
Comments(30)
al coniston
says...
12:45pm Sun 11 Mar 12
APR wrote:except when you're landing ;)
The only way is up :)
Cozzmix
says...
1:41pm Sun 11 Mar 12
I for one will be making full use of this new facility.
Good Luck to Stobart for doing more in 2 years than previous owners have done in over 30 years!
jayman
says...
3:28pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Test Tickle
says...
3:41pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Alice in Her Own Land :P
says...
3:45pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Test Tickle wrote:I have to agree. The way it's going at the mo, we will get to know when the MD last f@rted, what he had for breakfast and what the Mrs wore in bed.
Come on Echo, I think Stobarts have had enough free advertising now, how about some news for a change?
I'm well in favour of what's happening over at Rochford, but every day there's other things going on to be reported about.
jayman
says...
3:58pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:the only reason why anyone would get such press attention is if they killed a bus load of people.
Test Tickle wrote:I have to agree. The way it's going at the mo, we will get to know when the MD last f@rted, what he had for breakfast and what the Mrs wore in bed.
Come on Echo, I think Stobarts have had enough free advertising now, how about some news for a change?
I'm well in favour of what's happening over at Rochford, but every day there's other things going on to be reported about.
caused a national scandal.
was a terrorist
paid a news outlet a shed full on top of a truck load of cash or had a senior journalist or proprietor with a close connection to the airport MD..
Leveson take note!!
Nebs
says...
5:11pm Sun 11 Mar 12
jayman wrote:This is the biggest thing to hit Southend for donkeys years, and every bit of information should be reported.
Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:the only reason why anyone would get such press attention is if they killed a bus load of people.
Test Tickle wrote:I have to agree. The way it's going at the mo, we will get to know when the MD last f@rted, what he had for breakfast and what the Mrs wore in bed.
Come on Echo, I think Stobarts have had enough free advertising now, how about some news for a change?
I'm well in favour of what's happening over at Rochford, but every day there's other things going on to be reported about.
caused a national scandal.
was a terrorist
paid a news outlet a shed full on top of a truck load of cash or had a senior journalist or proprietor with a close connection to the airport MD..
Leveson take note!!
Skymaster
says...
5:14pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Test Tickle
says...
5:17pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Nebs wrote:I dont agree Nebs, I feel you can have too much of a good thing and now I'm starting to feel like it's being force fed to me, and now I'm starting to get a bit sick of it.
jayman wrote:This is the biggest thing to hit Southend for donkeys years, and every bit of information should be reported.Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:the only reason why anyone would get such press attention is if they killed a bus load of people. caused a national scandal. was a terrorist paid a news outlet a shed full on top of a truck load of cash or had a senior journalist or proprietor with a close connection to the airport MD.. Leveson take note!!Test Tickle wrote: Come on Echo, I think Stobarts have had enough free advertising now, how about some news for a change?I have to agree. The way it's going at the mo, we will get to know when the MD last f@rted, what he had for breakfast and what the Mrs wore in bed. I'm well in favour of what's happening over at Rochford, but every day there's other things going on to be reported about.
Brunning999
says...
5:22pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Test Tickle
says...
5:25pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Brunning999 wrote:Or a curse, depending on your perspective.
Stobbarts are a blessing to Southend and should receive all he compliments available.
Cozzmix
says...
5:37pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Test Tickle wrote:its local news that effects local people and I am interested ... If it dose not interest you, you don't have to read it. If you have a problem with the Airport then sure comment, I'm interested but if you just have a problem with it being reported then get an rss feed and filter out the news you personally don't want to see!
Brunning999 wrote:Or a curse, depending on your perspective.
Stobbarts are a blessing to Southend and should receive all he compliments available.
Max Impact
says...
6:42pm Sun 11 Mar 12
jayman wrote:As its at least 20 years away, by that time many of you anti everything in Southend will hopefully have moved away so that those of us that want to see a Southend that has employment, a museum and investment can enjoy it whilst you lot are living in a down trodden blackspot like Clacton.
i note with interest that the quotation of the managing director Alastair Welch regarding his intentions of raising the passenger limit from two million per year to four million per year has not been quoted on the on-line article..
Max Impact
says...
6:50pm Sun 11 Mar 12
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=zE0wiP-b4
Ls
I guess the antis will moan about it...
al coniston
says...
8:09pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Max Impact wrote:oh, i wouldn't recommend that they move to Clacton - apparently there are visions in place to concrete over the current grass-strip airport and create a new super airport twice the size of the planned 'Boris Island'
jayman wrote:As its at least 20 years away, by that time many of you anti everything in Southend will hopefully have moved away so that those of us that want to see a Southend that has employment, a museum and investment can enjoy it whilst you lot are living in a down trodden blackspot like Clacton.
i note with interest that the quotation of the managing director Alastair Welch regarding his intentions of raising the passenger limit from two million per year to four million per year has not been quoted on the on-line article..
Deborah007
says...
9:31pm Sun 11 Mar 12
Could we also expect a couple of flights to Munich & Geneva (for the business venues/ beer festival/ skiing) as being added to their schedule at some near point in the future?
southendreb
says...
10:42am Mon 12 Mar 12
Max Impact wrote:Before you start i am not an anti just sceptical.
Anyone seen the Southend Airport TV advert on primetine ITV? http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=zE0wiP-b4 Ls I guess the antis will moan about it...
Did anyone see Eddie Stobart the series on tv fri.
Efficiency? they send a 48 seater plane for 49 passengers then can only take 47 cos theres to much luggage.
maxell
says...
10:59am Mon 12 Mar 12
saddo99
says...
2:42pm Mon 12 Mar 12
southendreb wrote:Yes indeed. I commented on that on another thread and got called an idiot by Joeski97. Imagine your frustration on arriving at Southend Airport only to be told you can't go anywhere even though you,ve booked. Not Stobarts fault though, it was the tinpot airline. They spent the first 6 miles crop spraying! One thing the prog did show was that they certainly know how to run a business.
Max Impact wrote: Anyone seen the Southend Airport TV advert on primetine ITV? http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=zE0wiP-b4 Ls I guess the antis will moan about it...Before you start i am not an anti just sceptical. Did anyone see Eddie Stobart the series on tv fri. Efficiency? they send a 48 seater plane for 49 passengers then can only take 47 cos theres to much luggage.
Max Impact
says...
2:52pm Mon 12 Mar 12
saddo99 wrote:Correct:
southendreb wrote:Yes indeed. I commented on that on another thread and got called an idiot by Joeski97. Imagine your frustration on arriving at Southend Airport only to be told you can't go anywhere even though you,ve booked. Not Stobarts fault though, it was the tinpot airline. They spent the first 6 miles crop spraying! One thing the prog did show was that they certainly know how to run a business.Max Impact wrote: Anyone seen the Southend Airport TV advert on primetine ITV? http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=zE0wiP-b4 Ls I guess the antis will moan about it...Before you start i am not an anti just sceptical. Did anyone see Eddie Stobart the series on tv fri. Efficiency? they send a 48 seater plane for 49 passengers then can only take 47 cos theres to much luggage.
Stobarts do not operate the airline so had nothing to do with the aircraft change so how can they be held at fault?
Helps if you check the facts first stops you looking daft.
Every aircraft has a max take off weight if you excede it then the CAA can take away the operating licence of the airline.
The lady got the next flight that evening.
saddo99
says...
3:49pm Mon 12 Mar 12
southendreb
says...
4:00pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Max Impact
says...
6:05pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Yes Stobart have shares in AerArann I have shares in BA but I have no say on how they run the airline.
You will probably find it's an arms length arangement where the day to day running of the airline is kept "in house" whilst any major operational changes are delt with more indepth with the larger share holders.
southendreb
says...
8:15pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Diannah
says...
10:19pm Mon 12 Mar 12
I was lucky enough to visit the airport on the recent guided tours and was very impressed.
jayman
says...
10:38pm Mon 12 Mar 12
Diannah wrote:i have a shed at the end of the garden.. its efficient, as i can pot several plants in half an hour.
I'm actually quite disappointed that another destination wasn't announced today in the paper!
I was lucky enough to visit the airport on the recent guided tours and was very impressed.
I state this because if that's what it takes to impress you a guided tour of my shed will leave you speechless in awe.
i think we would like to hear of other business (non stobart) related news from around the borough. let other businesses enjoy the same level of press coverage for a change..
Max Impact
says...
11:20pm Mon 12 Mar 12
southendreb wrote:I did not say I don't trust Stobarts, How your question was put was what if it had happened to me, if I had to get to a meeting and I could not get on the flight I was booked on I would look at the quickest way to get to my destination.
So you dont trust Stobart either and would hire a plane then .
The flight in question was nothing to do with Sobarts, it was AerArann, if the ATR72 had gone tech and the only aircraft spare was the 42 its better to change aircraft than scrubbing the flight.
How hard is that to understand.
Max Impact
says...
11:24pm Mon 12 Mar 12
jayman wrote:You have a shed...
Diannah wrote:i have a shed at the end of the garden.. its efficient, as i can pot several plants in half an hour.
I'm actually quite disappointed that another destination wasn't announced today in the paper!
I was lucky enough to visit the airport on the recent guided tours and was very impressed.
I state this because if that's what it takes to impress you a guided tour of my shed will leave you speechless in awe.
i think we would like to hear of other business (non stobart) related news from around the borough. let other businesses enjoy the same level of press coverage for a change..
I have a man cave it is a fully fitted workshop and a space waiting to be filled by a Caterham 7 CSR.
Plant pots are for girls!
Diannah
says...
1:13pm Tue 13 Mar 12
jayman wrote:Your shed sounds very nice - keep it up.
Diannah wrote:i have a shed at the end of the garden.. its efficient, as i can pot several plants in half an hour.
I'm actually quite disappointed that another destination wasn't announced today in the paper!
I was lucky enough to visit the airport on the recent guided tours and was very impressed.
I state this because if that's what it takes to impress you a guided tour of my shed will leave you speechless in awe.
i think we would like to hear of other business (non stobart) related news from around the borough. let other businesses enjoy the same level of press coverage for a change..
APR says...
12:22pm Sun 11 Mar 12