You can check the stats on the CAA website and you will see that SOU only past the million mark last year.
2000 - 854,000
2001 - 857,000
2002 - 788,000
2003 - 1,218,000
2004 - on course for 1.6 million
Re Winchester etc, Yes they maybe closer to SOU than BOH. But they are still in the BOH catchment area. Just like BOH is in the SOU catchment area. It's not hard to see. Just mark out a 90 mile radius on a map around both airports and you'll see that they both share a huge catchment.
Ryanairs flights attract pax from as far as west london. I know people who have just booked the Thomsonfly Palma flights and they live in Cardiff. They've paid £21 return when Easy at Bristol were £101 each. If the flights are cheap enough people will travel some distance to get cheap flights. They saved 4 X £79 = £316. makes it worth while.
You mustn't fall into the trap of thinking that people fly from the closest airport. They don't. Price and choice play a huge part in the decision.
Any how Merry Christmas and we hope to see you on our BOH loco routes in the future. Just as I have used SOU in the past.
