Would be good to see a SOU base taking advantage of the complete and total loss of most air services down there before COVID-19. There are some quite thick routes up for grabs - of similar passenger volumes to that of MAN-ABZ on an annual basis.
I don't think the runway needs an extension for a domestic operation. The A320 can easily do GVA from SOU in the winter so routes to EDI, GLA, AMS, CDG, BFS, MAN and NCL could be very easily operated.
Fingers crossed. Would be great news for the South Coast.