View source for Southampton Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Southampton, England}}
{{about|the airport in England|the airport in Ontario, Canada|Southampton Aerodrome}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
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{{Infobox airport
| name                = Southampton Airport
| nativename          = 
| image               = SouthamptonAirportLogo.svg
| image-width         = 250
| image2              = Southampton, the main airport terminal - geograph.org.uk - 3887291.jpg
| image2-width        = 250
| IATA                = SOU
| ICAO                = EGHI
| type                = Public
| owner               = [[AGS Airports]]
| operator            = Southampton International Airport Ltd.
| opened              = {{start date and age|1917|||df=yes}}
| area-served         = [[South of England]]
| location            = [[Southampton]], [[Hampshire]], England
| focus_city          = [[easyJet]]
| elevation-f         = 44
| coordinates         = {{coord|50|57|01|N|001|21|24|W|type:airport_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map         = Hampshire#England
| pushpin_label       = '''SOU'''/EGHI
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Hampshire
| website             = {{Official URL}}
| metric-rwy          = y
| r1-number           = 02/20
| r1-length-m         = 1,887
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| stat-year           = 2024
| stat1-header        = Passengers
| stat1-data          = 852,727
| stat2-header        = Passenger change 23-24
| stat2-data          = {{increase}}11.5%
| stat3-header        = Aircraft movements
| stat3-data          = 21,998
| stat4-header        = Movements change 22–23
| stat4-data          = {{increase}}35%
| footnotes           = Source: United Kingdom [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]]<ref name="aip">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dblogcategory%26id%3D136%26Itemid%3D185.html |title=Southampton – EGHI |access-date=26 August 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br />Statistics from the [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|UK Civil Aviation Authority]]<ref name="stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/ |title=Aircraft and passenger traffic data from UK airports |publisher=[[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|UK Civil Aviation Authority]] |date=21 March 2023 |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211070518/http://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/ |archive-date=11 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''Southampton Airport''' {{airport codes|SOU|EGHI}} is an [[international airport]] located in both [[Eastleigh]] and [[Southampton]], Hampshire, in England. The airport is located {{Convert|3.5|NM|lk=in}} north-northeast of central [[Southampton]].<ref name="aip"/> The southern tip of the runway lies within the Southampton unitary authority boundary with most of the airport, including all of the buildings, within the [[Borough of Eastleigh]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wards Map |url=https://emaps.eastleigh.gov.uk/WebMaps/Map.aspx?MapName=WebmapsNoLocalPlan |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=www.southampton.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>{{efn|group=note|The airport has a Southampton postal address, but parts of the site fall within both Eastleigh and Southampton administrative areas. Responsibility is divided between Southampton City Council and Eastleigh Borough Council.}}<ref>{{cite web |title=SOUTHAMPTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LIMITED |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02431858 |website=Companies House |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=12 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Southampton International Airport |url=https://www.southampton.gov.uk/modernGov/documents/s43586/Southampton%20International%20Airport.pdf |publisher=Southampton City Council |access-date=23 March 2021 |page=2 |date=28 January 2020 |quote=The majority of the airport site... falls within the administrative boundary of Eastleigh Borough Council. The southern part of the airport falls within the administrative boundary of Southampton.}}</ref>

The airport handled nearly two million passengers during 2016, an 8.8% increase compared with 2015,<ref name="stats"/> making it the [[Busiest airports in the United Kingdom by total passenger traffic|18th busiest airport in the UK]]. Southampton Airport has a [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|CAA]] Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P690) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. The airport is owned and operated by [[AviAlliance]], which also owns and operates [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen]] and [[Glasgow Airport|Glasgow]] airports. It was previously owned and operated by [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]] (formerly known as BAA).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baa.com/about-baa/who-we-are |title=Who we are |year=2013 |publisher=Heathrow Airport Holdings |access-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118130225/http://www.baa.com/about-baa/who-we-are |archive-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Up to March 2020, 95% of the flights from Southampton were operated by [[Flybe (1979-2020)|Flybe]]. However, the airline went into administration on 5 March 2020 with all flights cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flybe 'set to go into administration overnight and cease operations immediately' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-04/flybe-the-government-is-no-longer-willing-to-put-taxpayer-money-on-the-line/ |access-date=5 March 2020 |work=ITV News |date=4 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref> When [[Flybe (2022-2023)|Flybe]] was purchased and relaunched, it was announced that they would start serving Southampton Airport from the 23 July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our network {{!}} Summer 2022 {{!}} flybe |url=https://www.flybe.com/en/where-we-fly/new-routes |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=www.flybe.com |language=en}}</ref> The reincarnated Flybe ultimately ceased operations nine months after its relaunch.

==History==
Aviation began at the site in 1910 when pioneer pilot [[Edwin Moon|Edwin Rowland Moon]] used the meadows belonging to [[North Stoneham]] Farm as a takeoff and landing spot for his [[monoplane]], Moonbeam Mk II.<ref>{{cite book |title= Book of the Stonehams|last= Mann|first= John Edgar |year= 2002|publisher= Halsgrove |location= Tiverton |isbn= 1-84114-213-1|page= 25}}</ref> The site became known as Eastleigh Airfield.<ref name="Humby2019">{{cite web |author1=Humby, Chris |title=Eastleigh Airfield |url=https://www.bishopstokehistory.uk/eastleigh-airfield/ |website=History of Bishopstoke, Hampshire |publisher=The Bishopstoke History Society |access-date=25 October 2024 |date=May 2019}}</ref>

===First World War===
The [[Royal Flying Corps]] earmarked the site as an aircraft acceptance base during the [[World War I|First World War]], but when forces from the [[United States Navy]] Air Service (NAS) arrived in 1917 it was handed over to them and designated NAS Eastleigh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/airfields/nos21.html|title=Naval Air Station Eastleigh|accessdate=29 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SOUTHAMPTON/EASTLEIGH Airport |url=https://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/airfields/eap.html |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=www.hampshireairfields.co.uk}}</ref> Work on the building of [[hangar]]s which had begun under the Royal Flying Corps was accelerated.<ref name="Humby2019" /> At the peak of the American presence, some 4,000 officers and men were billeted in tents and huts along the adjacent London to Southampton railway line.<ref name="Humby2019" />

===Inter-War years===
[[File:Aerial travel for Business or Pleasure - Thos Cook & Son - 1919 - pp 16+ (map).jpg|thumb|upright|"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, as temporarily arranged by the Air Ministry for civilian flying", published in 1919, showing "Eastleigh" as a "military and civil station".]]

After the war, the site became a transit camp for refugees, mainly Russian, who wished to sail to America from the port of Southampton. Shipping companies [[Cunard Line|Cunard]] and [[White Star Line]] (the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company), together with the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]], formed the Atlantic Park Hostel Company to house them temporarily. In 1921, the hangars were converted into dormitories, kitchens and dining rooms.<ref name='1e'>{{cite web |url=https://specialcollectionsuniversityofsouthampton.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/the-stories-they-tell-refugees-at-atlantic-park-eastleigh/ |title=Refugees at Atlantic Park, Eastleigh |date=12 June 2020 |website=Special Collections, University of Southampton |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

The hostel was intended as a short-term clearing house for those trans-migrants changing ships, but following changes to United States immigration law which restricted entry under [[National Origins Quota of 1924|national origins quotas]], some residents were forced to stay much longer. In 1924 about 980 [[History of the Jews in Ukraine|Ukrainian Jewish]] would-be emigrants were cared for at the hostel. Some of them were still there seven years later, stranded between the US and UK which would not accept them, and unable to return to the countries they had fled. Atlantic Park had a school, library, and synagogue; the refugees formed football teams that played local sides and took part in local events, such as Eastleigh carnival. At the height of its use, 20,000 passed through Atlantic Park in 1928 but then numbers started to fall away, leading to the closure of the hostel in 1931.<ref name="1e" />

In 1932, Southampton Corporation purchased the site, and it became Southampton Municipal Airport.<ref name="1d" /> This was allowed for by the ''Southampton Corporation Act 1931'', which allowed for the creation of a public aerodrome.<ref>{{cite web |title=Southampton Corporation Act 1931 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo5/21-22/99/contents/enacted |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |access-date=11 July 2024}}</ref> By 1935, part of the site was being used by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and was briefly known as RAF Eastleigh before it became '''RAF Southampton''' in 1936. Also in 1936, [[Supermarine]] opened a flight test facility on the site and built a large new Flight Shed at the south end of the aerodrome in 1937-38, and construction of the vast [[Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft]] factory between this and Wide Lane soon followed. The [[Ford Southampton plant|latter factory]] was better known post-war for production of the Ford Motor Company's Transit vans until this finally closed in 2013 - leaving only the almost forgotten Supermarine Flight Shed which had accommodated so many Spitfires locally before their first flights and deliveries to the RAF. Sadly, despite its obvious historical significance, this 84-year-old building is now set for demolition and redevelopment with modern industrial units.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24163772.southampton-spitfire-makers-recall-supermarine-flight-shed/ |title=Southampton: Spitfire Makers recall Supermarine Flight Shed |date=6 March 2024 |website=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

===Second World War===
The first test flight of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] took place at the airport on 5 March 1936, an event commemorated in 2004 by the erection of a two-thirds-size sculpture of K5054, the prototype Spitfire, at the road entrance. On 5 March 2006, five restored Spitfires took off from Southampton Airport to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first test flight of the Spitfire. The local council wanted to rename the airport after [[R. J. Mitchell]], designer of the Spitfire. However, the airport owner at the time, [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]], did not agree.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4925432.stm |title=Airport rename to honour Spitfire |date=20 April 2006 |access-date=20 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060423111359/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4925432.stm |archive-date=23 April 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/4929370.stm |title=Airport Spitfire rename supported |date=21 April 2006 |access-date=21 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061224190511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4929370.stm |archive-date=24 December 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The military site was transferred to naval command in 1939, renamed [[RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven)]], and spent most of the war in a ground and air training role for the Royal Navy. Owing to the 'HMS' designation in the airport's name, Nazi propaganda inaccurately reported that HMS Raven had been sunk when a bombing raid hit the airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southamptonairport.com/portal/page/SOU%5EAbout+BAA+Southampton%5ESouthampton+lowdown%5EOur+History/957a9f64bb042010VgnVCM100000147e120a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821195211/http://www.southamptonairport.com/portal/page/SOU%5EAbout+BAA+Southampton%5ESouthampton+lowdown%5EOur+history/957a9f64bb042010VgnVCM100000147e120a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/|url-status=dead|title=BAA Southampton Official Airport Website|archive-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> It passed back into civilian ownership in April 1946.<ref name='1d'>{{cite web |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/about-us/our-history/ |title=Our History |website=Southampton Airport |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

=== Development after the Second World War ===
The [[Juan de la Cierva|Cierva Autogiro Company]] rented portions of the Cunliffe-Owen plants from 1946, but had to move to another location on the field when it was acquired by Briggs. In 1951, [[Saunders-Roe]] took over the interests of [[Juan de la Cierva|Cierva Autogyro]] and built a rotor testing building on the eastern side of the airfield, which is now derelict. They continued operations on the field until about 1960.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/media/2502/area-4-southampton-airport.pdf |title = Eastleigh Borough Council landscape character |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>

During the 1950s, a mainstay of business for the airport was the cross-channel car ferry service operated by [[Silver City Airways]] using [[Bristol Freighter]]s and [[Bristol Superfreighter|Superfreighters]].<ref name="1d" />

In 1959, Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport was purchased by racing pilot J.N. 'Nat' Somers, who laid the foundation for the regional airport that exists today by building the concrete runway in 1963 and negotiating with [[British Rail]] to build [[Southampton Airport Parkway railway station]] next to the airport. Somers also worked with the Department of Transport to plan for the new [[M27 motorway]] to pass through the airport just south of the runway and north of [[Ford Southampton plant|Ford's plant]], at the same time installing a major roundabout outside the airport.<ref name="1d" /> This forward-thinking programme encouraged most of the airlines at [[Bournemouth Airport|Bournemouth (Hurn) airport]] to move to Southampton in the mid-1960s. In 1988 Somers' company sold the airport to [[Peter de Savary]], who a few years later sold it to the owners of [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]].<ref name="1d" />

In 1993, construction of a new terminal began after an investment of £27 million by [[Heathrow Airport Holdings|BAA]]. It was completed in 1994 and opened by [[Prince Andrew]], the Duke of York.<ref name="1d" />

=== 21st century ===
In 2003, the airport reached one million passengers.<ref name="1d" />

In 2010, the airport arranged a series of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first flight at the airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/centenary-of-flight|title=Centenary of flight|date=28 January 2010|publisher=Hampshire County Council|access-date=27 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021001652/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/centenary-of-flight|archive-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Olympic flame]] visited the airport as part of the torch relay for the [[2012 Olympics]], in London. In October 2014, [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]] reached an agreement to sell the airport, together with those at Glasgow and Aberdeen, for £1 billion to [[AGS Airports]], a consortium of [[Ferrovial]] and [[Macquarie Group]].<ref>{{cite news |date=16 October 2014 |title=Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports sold in £1bn deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29650438 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019042448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29650438 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016 the airport won the ''Airport of the Year'' award of the [[European Regional Airlines Association]], having demonstrated extraordinary involvement with the local community and reducing its [[carbon footprint]], whilst growing and expanding in a highly competitive market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14807043.Airport_flying_high_after_being_awarded_as_the_best_in_Europe/ |title=Southampton Airport flying high after being awarded as the best in Europe |publisher=Southern Daily Echo |date=18 October 2016 |access-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020065845/http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14807043.Airport_flying_high_after_being_awarded_as_the_best_in_Europe/ |archive-date=20 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March of the same year, [[Aer Lingus Regional]] announced it would fly from Southampton to [[Cork Airport]] with an [[ATR 72]], operated by [[Stobart Air]]. In 2017, the airport reached two million passengers. In 2019 Southampton was ranked third of 30 airports in the UK for customer satisfaction by ''[[Which?]]'' magazine, with a score of 77%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/which-best-and-worst-uk-airports/|title=Revealed: Britain's best and worst airports|last=Smith|first=Oliver|date=9 September 2019|website=The Telegraph|language=en-GB|access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref> On 5 June [[Air Force One]] touched down in Southampton carrying then president, [[Donald Trump]]. He then travelled to [[Portsmouth]] to mark the 75th anniversary of [[D-Day]]. The [[Boeing 757]] was the biggest jet ever to visit Southampton.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17686124.video-air-force-one-touches-southampton-airport-donald-trump-visits-hampshire/ | title=VIDEO: Donald Trump arrives at Southampton Airport | date=6 June 2019 }}</ref>

On 9 December 2020, [[British Airways]] ([[BA CityFlyer]]) announced they would fly to 13 destinations, mainly holiday destinations, to Spain, Portugal, France, Austria, Italy and Greece. These flights filled the void left by Flybe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/12/09/british-airways-launches-flights-from-southampton-airport/|title = British Airways launches flights from Southampton airport | date=9 December 2020 }}</ref>

On 25 May 2023, [[easyJet]] announced that they would start flying to two domestic destinations, with twice weekly flights to Glasgow and thrice weekly flights to Belfast International starting at the end of October.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/news/media-centre/2023/easyjet-celebrates-new-flights-from-southampton-to-belfast-and-glasgow/ |title=easyJet celebrates new flights from Southampton to Belfast and Glasgow |date=3 November 2023 |website=southamptonairport.com |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref> On 7 November 2023, [[easyJet]] yet again announced they would start flying to two summer destinations, those being Faro once a week and Alicante once a week.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/news/media-centre/2023/easyjet-launches-two-new-routes-from-southampton-for-summer-2024/ |title=easyJet launches two new routes |date=7 November 2023 |website=southamptonairport.com |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref> Not long after, [[easyJet]] announced the third summer route, a twice weekly service to Palma de Mallorca.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/news/media-centre/2023/easyjet-launches-new-summer-route-and-package-holidays-to-majorca-from-southampton-airport/ |title=easyJet launches new summer route |date=28 November 2023 |website=southamptonairport.com |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

==Operations==
[[File:Southampton_Airport_,_Parked_Planes_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3128427.jpg|thumb|Apron at Southampton Airport]]
[[File:Southampton_Airport_,_Departures_Lounge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3127188.jpg|thumb|Interior view]]

=== Terminal ===
Southampton Airport has one terminal which has twelve stands. None of the stands are equipped with jet bridges. Inside the terminal, there are thirteen check-in desks. Facilities include coffee shops, bars, stationers, a duty-free shop and an upstairs lounge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/shop-eat/ |title=Shop and Dine |website=Southampton Airport |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

=== Airfield ===
Southampton Airport has one main ground handler, Swissport (Servisair), who took over from Aviance. They handle all passenger services and apron operations for all airlines except for Aurigny Air Services who operate their own ground handling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/at-the-airport/arriving-passengers/ |title=Arriving Passenger Info |website=Southampton Airport |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

Southampton has one [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] runway, 02/20, which is now {{convert|1887|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|37|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide. Only runway 20 has an [[Instrument Landing System]]. Runway 02 has [[VOR/DME]] and [[Non-directional beacon|NDB]] navigation aids. [[Visual approach]] is allowed on both runways. 

In September 2019, the airport announced plans to extend its runway north by {{cvt|164|m}} to allow it to support larger aircraft which would enable longer routes. The airport stated aims to increase passenger numbers from 2{{nbsp}}million to 5{{nbsp}}million by 2037.<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 September 2018|title=Longer runway in Southampton Airport 20-year plan|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-45571412|access-date=14 March 2021}}</ref> 
The airport managing director claimed that if the runway extension is not approved, the airport may have to close in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 October 2020|title=Southampton Airport expansion: closure warning over runway plans|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-54487771|access-date=14 March 2021}}</ref>  Work commenced on the 164m runway extension on 31 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/news/media-centre/2023/southampton-airport-breaks-ground-on-runway-extension-project/ | title=Southampton Airport breaks ground on runway extension project }}</ref>  The new 164{{nbsp}}m runway extension became operational on 15 August 2023 with an official opening on 21 September. Attendees included then Aviation Minister, [[Baroness Vere]], as well as then MP for Eastleigh, [[Paul Holmes (Eastleigh MP)|Paul Holmes]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23724594.southampton-airport-first-flight-takes-off-new-runway-|title=Southampton Airport first flight takes off from new runway extension |date=15 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Southampton airport opens runway extension |url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2023/09/23/southampton-airport-opens-runway-extension/ |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Business Traveller |date=23 September 2023 }}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==
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The following airlines operate regular scheduled services to and from Southampton:<ref>[https://www.southamptonairport.com/destinations/flight-timetables/ southamptonairport.com - Flight Timetables] retrieved 1 November 2020</ref>

{{Airport-dest-list
|{{nowrap|[[Aer Lingus]]}} | [[Belfast City Airport|Belfast–City]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241031-einw24eu|title=Aer Lingus NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 27OCT24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=31 October 2024|accessdate=14 March 2025}}</ref> [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/aer-lingus-regional-announces-new-winter-services | title=Aer Lingus Regional announces new winter services }}</ref>
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| [[Aurigny]] | [[Alderney Airport|Alderney]], [[Guernsey Airport|Guernsey]]<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Guernsey|date=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|pages=412}}</ref>
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| [[easyJet]] | [[Alicante Airport|Alicante]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240423-u2ns24|title=easyJet NS24 Network Additions – 21APR24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=23 April 2024|accessdate=1 April 2025}}</ref> [[Barcelona Airport|Barcelona]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25245657.easyjet-launches-new-city-break-route-southampton/ | title=New route from Southampton Airport announced | date=17 June 2025 }}</ref> [[Glasgow Airport|Glasgow]],<ref name="aeroroutes_230911-u2nw23"/> [[Orly Airport|Paris–Orly]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241224-u2ns25|title=easyJet NS25 Network Additions – 22DEC24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=24 December 2024|accessdate=31 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/news/media-centre/2024/southampton-to-paris-twice-a-week-what-s-not-to-louvre/ | title=Southampton to Paris, Twice a Week—What's Not to Louvre? }}</ref> <br /> ''' Seasonal:''' [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]],<ref name="centreforaviation.com">{{cite web | url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/easyjet-to-commence-15-new-international-services-in-2024-1232965 | title=News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry &#124; CAPA }}</ref> [[Belfast International Airport|Belfast–International]],<ref name="aeroroutes_230911-u2nw23">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230911-u2nw23|title=easyJet NW23 Network Additions – 10SEP23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=11 September 2023|accessdate=1 April 2025}}</ref> [[Gago Coutinho Airport|Faro]],<ref name="centreforaviation.com" /> [[Geneva Airport|Geneva]],<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Geneva, Switzerland|date=February 2023|volume=24|issue=8|publisher=[[OAG (company)|OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited]]|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|pages=318–323}}</ref> [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eastleighnews.co.uk/2023/11/easyjet-southampton-flights-with-new-route-majorca/ | title=EasyJet expands Southampton flights with new route to Majorca | date=28 November 2023 }}</ref> 
<!-- -->
| [[KLM]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]]<ref name="aeroroutes_240122-klns24eu">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240122-klns24eu|title=KLM NS24 European Service Changes – 21JAN24|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Loganair]] | [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]],<ref name="aeroroutes_240227-lmns24">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240227-lmns24|title=Loganair NS24 Service Changes – 25FEB24|website=Aeroroutes.com|accessdate=2 November 2024}}</ref> [[Jersey Airport|Jersey]],<ref name="j248">{{cite web | title=Loganair to take over from Blue Island | website=ITV News | date=2025-11-15 | url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-11-15/logan-air-to-take-over-from-blue-island | access-date=2025-11-15}}</ref> [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/loganair-creates-southampton-base-with-new-manchester-route | title=Loganair creates Southampton base with new Manchester route }}</ref> [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle upon Tyne]]<ref name="aeroroutes_240227-lmns24"/> 
<!-- -->
| [[TUI Airways]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241226-tomns25uk|title=TUI Airways NS25 UK Short/Medium-Haul Network Additions|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=26 December 2024|accessdate=27 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tui.co.uk/flight/timetable| title=Flights with TUI &#124; Thomson now TUI Airways}}</ref>
}}

==Statistics==

===Passenger numbers===
<div class="floatright">
{| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"
|+'''Southampton Airport Passenger Totals 2002–2024 (thousands)'''
|-
| <timeline>
ImageSize = width:auto height:250 barincrement:29
PlotArea = left:40 bottom:15 top:10 right:15
AlignBars = justify
Period = from:0 till:2100
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical

Colors =
 id:gray value:gray(0.5)
 id:line1 value:gray(0.9)
 id:line2 value:gray(0.7)

ScaleMajor = start:0 increment:500 gridcolor:line2
ScaleMinor = start:0 increment:100 gridcolor:line1

PlotData=
 color:blue width:20
 bar:2002 from:start till:789.325
 bar:2003 from:start till:1218.634
 bar:2004 from:start till:1530.776
 bar:2005 from:start till:1835.784
 bar:2006 from:start till:1912.979
 bar:2007 from:start till:1965.686
 bar:2008 from:start till:1945.993
 bar:2009 from:start till:1789.901
 bar:2010 from:start till:1733.690
 bar:2011 from:start till:1762.076
 bar:2012 from:start till:1694.120
 bar:2013 from:start till:1722.758
 bar:2014 from:start till:1831.732
 bar:2015 from:start till:1789.470
 bar:2016 from:start till:1947.052
 bar:2017 from:start till:2069.910
 bar:2018 from:start till:1991.014
 bar:2019 from:start till:1781.457
 bar:2020 from:start till:296.094
 bar:2021 from:start till:263.131
 color:blue
 bar:2022 from:start till:631.458
 bar:2023 from:start till:754.931
 bar:2024 from:start till:852.727
</timeline>
|-
|Updated: June 2021.<ref name="stats"/>
|}
</div>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;" align="center"
|+
|-
! style="width:75px"| !! Number of Passengers !! style="width:75px"| Aircraft movements !! style="width:75px"| Cargo <br /> (tonnes)
|-
!2001
| 857,670 || 48,204 || 332
|-
!2002
| 789,325 || 46,767 || 382
|-
!2003
| 1,218,634 || 51,423 || 322
|-
!2004
| 1,530,776 || 54,484 || 272
|-
!2005
| 1,835,784 || 58,045 || 204
|-
!2006
| 1,912,979 || 55,786 || 195
|-
!2007
| 1,965,686 || 54,183 || 297
|-
!2008
| 1,945,993 || 50,689 || 264
|-
!2009
| 1,789,901 || 45,502 || 209
|-
!2010
| 1,733,690 || 45,350 || 116
|-
!2011
| 1,762,076 || 45,700 || 132
|-
!2012
| 1,694,120 || 43,284 || 359
|-
!2013
| 1,722,758 || 40,501 || 133
|-
!2014
| 1,831,732 || 40,374 || 133
|-
!2015
| 1,789,470 || 39,379 || 185
|-
!2016
| 1,947,052 || 42,824 || 173
|-
!2017
| 2,069,910 || 39,285 || 200
|-
!2018
| 1,991,014 || 39,651 || 233
|-
!2019
| 1,781,457 || 36,473 || 203
|-
!2020
| 296,094 || 10,931 || 69
|-
!2021
| 263,131 || 8,464 || 23
|-
!2022
| 631,458 || 16,253 || 22
|-
!2023
| 754,931 || 21,998 || 33
|-
!2024
| 852,727 || 21,369 || 81
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan=5 align="right"| ''Source: CAA Official Statistics''<ref name="stats"/>
|}

===Busiest routes===

[[File:Spitfire-Southampton.jpg|thumb|Two-thirds scale model Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054 at Southampton Airport]]
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Busiest routes to and from Southampton (2022)<ref name="routestats">{{cite web |url=https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/uk-airport-data-2022/ |title=Airport Data 2022 |date=21 March 2023 |publisher=UK Civil Aviation Authority |at=Tables 12.1(XLS) and 12.3 (XLS) |access-date=25 March 2023 }}</ref>
|-
! Rank || Airport || Total <br />passengers || Change<br />2021–22 || Carrier(s)
|-
|1||  [[Jersey Airport|Jersey]] ||align='right'| 99,892 ||{{increase}} 85.7% ||[[Blue Islands]]
|-
|2||  [[Guernsey Airport|Guernsey]] ||align='right'| 97,364 ||{{increase}} 97.3% ||[[Aurigny]], [[Blue Islands]]
|-
|3||  [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]] ||align='right'| 81,766 ||{{increase}} 132.1% ||[[British Airways]], [[Loganair]]
|-
|4||  [[Glasgow Airport|Glasgow]] ||align='right'| 75,002 ||{{increase}} 136.6% || [[Loganair]]
|-
|5||  [[George Best Belfast City Airport|Belfast City (George Best)]] ||align='right'| 61,422 ||{{increase}} 243.2% ||[[Aer Lingus]]
|-
|6||  [[Amsterdam Airport|Amsterdam]] ||align='right'| 52,779 ||{{increase}} 461.4% ||[[KLM]]
|-
|7||  [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]] ||align='right'| 39,622 ||{{increase}} 104.6% || [[Loganair]]
|-
|8|| [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]] ||align='right'| 30,561 ||{{increase}} 300.2% ||[[Aer Lingus]], [[British Airways]], [[Eastern Airways]]
|-
|9|| [[Alderney Airport|Alderney]] ||align='right'| 17,175 ||{{increase}} 104.5% ||[[Aurigny]]
|-
|10||  [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]] ||align='right'| 12,768 ||{{increase}} 263.1% ||[[British Airways]]
|}

==Ground transport==

=== Rail ===
Southampton Airport has a dedicated mainline railway station, {{stnlink|Southampton Airport Parkway}}. It is on the [[South West Main Line]] from {{stnlink|London Waterloo}} (66 minutes away) to [[Winchester]] (15 minutes away), [[Southampton]] (city centre about 7 minutes away), [[Bournemouth]], [[Poole]], [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]] and [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], with a fast and frequent service to those places. The station is a 60-second walk from the terminal, one of the closest airport links in Europe.

=== Bus ===
[[Unilink]] buses run to Southampton city centre throughout the day. Taxis are available outside Arrivals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Travel to Southampton city centre|url=http://www.southamptonairport.com/transport-and-directions/travel-to-the-city-centre|access-date=17 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120170152/http://www.southamptonairport.com/transport-and-directions/travel-to-the-city-centre|archive-date=20 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bluestar (bus company)|Bluestar]] also runs services between Eastleigh and Hedge End aboard their 24 service hourly on the south-side of the train station.

=== Motorway ===
The airport is near the junction between the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3 motorway]] and [[M27 motorway]], giving easy road access to Southampton, Winchester, Bournemouth, Poole, Portsmouth and places between.

=== Bicycle ===
Southampton Airport has designated parking and storage for bicycles. Southampton cycle route 7 is proposed to run just outside the airport, giving it a direct cycle path to the city centre. [[National Cycle Route 23]] also runs outside the airport, running between Southampton and Reading via Basingstoke, Alresford, Winchester and Eastleigh.

==Accidents and incidents==
* On 10 June 1990, [[British Airways Flight 5390]] suffered an [[explosive decompression]] over [[Didcot, Oxfordshire|Didcot]], [[Oxfordshire]] while flying from [[Birmingham]] to [[Málaga]], Spain. The captain, Tim Lancaster, was partially ejected from the [[cockpit]]{{efn|group=note|Multiple media reports said “sucked out”, but aviation safety guidance describes rapid decompression as an outward rush of cabin air that can eject unsecured occupants.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 March 2013 |title=AC 61-107B CHG 1: Operations of Aircraft at Altitudes Above 25,000 ft and/or Mach Numbers (Mmo) Greater than .75 |url=https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-107B_CHG_1.pdf |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |page=22 |quote=If there is a large opening, anything not secured down will move towards the opening.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cabin Decompression Awareness (Flight Operations Briefing Notes) |url=https://skybrary.aero/sites/default/files/bookshelf/1269.pdf |publisher=Airbus via Skybrary |page=2 |quote=Rush of air, as the air exits the cabin… Unsecured items in the immediate area are ejected from the aircraft.}}</ref>}}; co-pilot Alastair Atchison managed to land the plane safely at Southampton with no fatalities. Two crew members including Lancaster were seriously injured, but all passengers were unharmed. This accident appeared on the National Geographic television programme ''[[Air Crash Investigation]]'' (known as ''Mayday'' in some countries).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resources/dft_avsafety_pdf_502702.pdf|title=BAC One-Eleven, G-BJRT: Main document|date=9 March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309181837/http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resources/dft_avsafety_pdf_502702.pdf|archive-date=9 March 2005}}</ref>
* On 26 May 1993, a [[Cessna 550 Citation II]] landed with a tailwind of {{Convert|15|kn|lk=in}}, while the operating manual recommended a maximum safe tailwind of {{convert|10|kn}}; this resulted in a landing distance requirement greater than that available at the airport. The plane overran the runway through the airport perimeter fence and onto the [[M27 motorway]] where it collided with two cars and caught fire. The two flight crew sustained minor whiplash injuries, and the three car occupants also sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/5_1994_g_jetb.cfm | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081022200010/http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/5_1994_g_jetb.cfm | url-status= dead | archive-date= 22 October 2008 | title= Report on the accident to Cessna 550 Citation II, G-JETB at Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport on 26 May 1993 | work= UK AAIB | access-date= 7 April 2008 }}</ref>

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist|group=note}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}


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[[Category:Airports established in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Heathrow Airport Holdings]]
[[Category:Transport in Southampton]]
[[Category:Airports in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Hampshire|Southampton]]
[[Category:History of Hampshire]]