In October 2017, Stobart Air (under a franchise agreement with Flybe), started flights from London Southend to Manchester. The flights run up to 3 times daily on weekdays. Perfect for  business travellers and those going for day trips to Manchester and even other towns and cities not too far from Manchester Airport, like Liverpool for example. Manchester Airport is also a proper alternative non-London hub airport, to connect to long haul destinations such as New York, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and even Singapore for example! The only other airline and London airport that does Manchester flights is British Airways from Heathrow, which previously had a monopoly on London to Manchester flights. The Southend to Manchester flight is often popular with business travellers (and day trippers), due to the fact that Southend Airport provides a much more speedy, pleasant and stress-free experience than the other London airports. Plus fares were often £50 to £80 cheaper than the train! This petition has been started, because Stobart Air (under their franchise agreement with Flybe) are set to cut back on many of their routes and aircraft at their London Southend base. The Manchester flight is set to face the chop just after New Year in 2019. The loss of what is perhaps Southend’s most useful flight will be a big disappointment and huge loss to those who live locally to the airport and cherish and rely on the Manchester flight. We ask not to axe the flight, but even if it flies at a reduced schedule. Like twice daily on weekdays, one flight on weekends.