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Old 9th Apr 2021, 19:14
  #46 (permalink)  
Rivet Joint
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South
Age: 44
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Sorry but this does not make any sense. Is there any evidence to suggest that the junction improvements and train station were only made for the airport's benefit? I'm sure the airport was a factor but the large borough of Eastleigh and northern Southampton were probably the driving force behind better transport infrastructure.

Seeing as you are a BOH supporter, which there is nothing wrong with, perhaps you can answer the following questions that putting my neutral hat on I am generally curious about: -

1. Surely the most important question for BOH is why a small extension to SOUs runway in their opinion means that SOU is going to take all their business? If BOH already has all the facilities to the extent that SOU does not need to obtain them to serve the region then why aren't airlines tripping over themselves to open routes at BOH like a fair few have and are at SOU?

My personal opinion on the above is that passengers vote with their feet and airlines make money from flying from airports with the footfall. Also, and I think the most important point here is that none of BOHs business is going to transfer to SOU. All the cargo ops cannot operate because of SOUs curfew, and there is not space for Draken etc. FR also with their whole fleet being 737s are still not going to be able to operate from SOU even with the extension without lots of seats being empty. Chance of FR's business model being compatible with that? Zero.

2. In what universe do you or indeed BOH management think there will be a motorway built through a national park? Its never going to happen and I would be surprised if even the biggest supporter of BOH or the management would demand that one was built. This means that the most dense catchments of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester etc are essentially cut off from BOH. Its hard enough to get to Bournemouth at the weekend to go to the beach on those small roads.

3. Purely from a competition stand point, do you not think its a bit rich and also quite concerning that a competitor is able to object to one of its competitor's spending its own money on its own land and in the process creating jobs and prosperity for the region? I could understand if tax payer money was being used to pay for the extension etc, that would absolutely be unfair to BOH. That is not what is happening here and there is nothing to stop BOH investing money also if it wants to.

I am genuinely curious to hear from BOH supporters on the above points.

I also want to make it clear that my personal opinion is that both BOH and SOU compliment each other very well and will continue to if SOU gets its extension and attracts a low cost operator. SOU is and always will be only a passenger airport. BOHs business is very diverse and I think there is much scope for the new cargo ops to grow given the lack of a curfew. FR and BY will also no doubt continue to serve the longstanding sun routes.
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