Dublin Routes News 2017

The SEN-DUB route was doing reasonably well under the Aer Lingus Regional franchise, it was growing year on year and started to see consistently healthy loads after a shaky start.


Stobart were desperate to diversify their business and get Flybe to open a base in Southend, they used the DUB route as a bargaining chip and agreed with Aer Lingus to transfer it to Flybe has part of their new base. Unfortunately for Stobart, at the same time Flybe was planning their own operated base in London City which featured a Dublin route, Flybe ended up competing with the Stobart operated franchise from Southend. Which one did Flybe back more, their own operation at London City or Stobart dressed up as Flybe at Southend?


Both failed in the end, the schedule at SEN was destroyed under Flybe/Stobart, it went from a consistent 2-3 daily with Aer Lingus Regional to barely daily with Flybe. Stobart shot themselves in the foot and have suffered in Southend ever since.


Maybe it will do better this time around, better aircraft and no conflict of interest from Flybe at City but I don't hold out much hope. Only Aer Lingus Regional could make this work again consistently in my opinion.