Southampton Airport has marked the official opening of its runway extension as part of its goal to expand capacity and adapt to modern airline fleets. Local business representatives and senior political figures including MPs Paul Holmes, Caroline Noakes, Royston Smith and Steve Brine, as well as Cabinet Members at Eastleigh Borough and Southampton City Council, joined Southampton Airport’s leadership team on the airfield on Thursday, 21 September, for the inauguration.
The expansion project will generate about 1,400 additional jobs. It will also attract more airlines and offer new routes and services to the people of Southampton and the wider region. Launched in Spring, the work has extended the northern end of the runway by 164 meters at an investment of 15 million pounds (about 17.4 million euros).
“We are committed to strengthening connectivity while promoting economic development and the expansion advances our shared goal to increase capacity and positively impact the community and the region”, said Miguel Rodera. Ferrovial Airports Asset Management Director for AGS.
Also, during the opening event, Steve Szalay, Southampton Airport’s Operations Director said that “the extension is a critical part of our future and will help enhance the region’s connectivity, safeguard the airport’s future, and help deliver social and economic benefits to Eastleigh, Southampton and the wider region”.
Southampton Airport is part of AGS, the company that owns and manages Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports and in which Ferrovial holds a 50% stake. In the UK, Ferrovial is also the majority shareholder of Heathrow, as well as of Dalaman International Airport in Turkey. Additionally, in 2022, it became the lead investor in the consortium to design, build and operate the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport in New York City.
For more information on Southampton Airport’s runway extension, please click here