@maglevboard also, as discussed with @Maglev_UK & others - Maglev would need < 5 mins headway to offer capacity that #hs2 could #Maglev #MRT
All direct flights from Southampton
Flight Summary
Southampton Airport serves a large catchment area in the Solent region including the city of Southampton itself, Bournemouth and Portsmouth, together with a much wider hinterland that find Southampton airport particularly easy to use, especially when compared with London's behemoth's Heathrow or Gatwick.
Budget airline Flybe reigns supreme at Southampton, operating a wide range of domestic and European flights. Flybe's dominance is in part thanks to the relatively short runway at Southampton that keeps out the likes of Ryanair.
Southampton has a particularly strong network of domestic flights, including routes to northern England which do not work from London because alternative rail services are much more convenient. In some cases, you will find flights operated by Eastern Airways rather Flybe, and these generally tend to be more pricey, although they are still much better value than heading up to Heathrow.
When it comes to flights to Europe, Southampton is also well represented, with a good selection of flights to France, where niche destinations such as Dijon and Clermont-Ferrand are available from Southampton and nowhere else. A reasonable choice of flights to Spain and Germany is also offered.
Destination Summary
Situated on the south coast of England, Southampton bills itself as "a Green City with a Sporting Tradition".
Greenery is certainly much in evidence, from the Common in the centre of the city to the New Forest on its outskirts. The sporting tradition extends to home grounds for Hampshire Cricket Club and Southampton Football Club, the latter - once graced by such superstars as Kevin Keegan, Matt Le Tissier and, erm, Paul Telfer - situated in the recently renovated St.Mary's district.
That snappy piece of PR phrasing, though, leaves out a far more significant part of Southampton's heritage - the city's vast maritime history. Today, the Ocean Village marina development is as close as most city dwellers get to venturing forth on the high seas, yet the Maritime Museum (situated in the 19th century Wool House) tells a very different story. The Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, and here you'll find a detailed account of that fateful trip, with - thankfully - precious little of Celine Dion to support it.
The city of Southampton stretches back even further historically, with Roman and Saxon settlements having been discovered in the area. Some of the city's medieval town wall - most notably the section leading around to gatehouse-cum-monument God's House Tower - remains today. Hurst Castle was constructed by Henry VIII to protect the Solent from invasion; the 18th century Broadlands was once the home of Lord Mountbatten.
There's plenty more history on offer at the Tudor House Museum. Leftfield attractions include Netley Abbey, a sprawling Gothic ruin that once formed part of the novelist Jane Austen's Southampton experience; Southampton City Art Gallery, a well-stocked assortment of past and contemporary masters; and Beaulieu Motor Museum, in the picturesque setting of the New Forest - a lush natural phenomenon that is, in itself, one further reason to visit Southampton.
Quick Facts
- Airport Code: SOU
- Alternative Name: Eastleigh
James Says
Southampton's short runway and its proximity to London preclude the operation of long-haul flights.
Flybe offer feeder flights to long-haul destinations through either Amsterdam or Frankfurt. There are also a few onward connection options through Paris Orly.
Considering the size of Southampton itself, or even the wider Solent region, the range of flights from Southampton is actually extremely impressive, in part due to the generally smaller aicraft used, which makes more routes viable. This is then bolstered by the wonderfully easy road and rail links, making Southampton a much more attractive option for many people when compared to Gatwick or even Heathrow.
Mark Says
Access to Southampton airport is convenient by road or rail - the M3 and M27 motorways meet very close by, and Southampton Airport Parkway station offers direct local services and intercity rail to London, Birmingham and even as far afield as Manchester.
Southampton offers the advantage of both easy access and a compact terminal, which could be compared to London City airport in terms of convenience.
Your Comments (6)
Adrian
It is so much more modern now, and considering the size of the city, the range of destinations is excellent. I guess that's because Flybe know what the punter wants - high frequency links to key UK & Ireland business places, and major European hubs like Amsterdam.
Also, they serve a good range of leisure routes using nice, modern aircraft, and the whole experience is pleasant - not like the old wrecks Thomsonfly use in Bournemouth, and as for Ryanair - I'd rather not!
FrenchFrank
Do you think they will add more routes, there are a few exceptions, like Toulouse for one.
James Avery
Many people take advantageo of these routes from places throughout the south of England, as Southampton Airport has its own station onsite, with regular fast trains from Waterloo, and also from many points down from Birmingham. This makes it much more useful as an alternative London airport than somewhere like Southend, which is only easily accessible from east London or Essex.
Route networks change all the time, but Toulouse is popular both as a city break and business destination, but also for skiers. This makes it much easier to fill larger aircraft, especially from Gatwick, so conversely, it is less likely to work so well from Southampton.
Jeremy Eastwood
Ryan Thompson
James Avery