There seems to be a negative theme about SOU which is most unfortunate. Perhaps operators and prospective carriers are realising that it's ability to increase it's runway length is very limited and therefore the chance for route development is minimal. It's a great shame if the airport can only attract niche carriers. In aviation it's either grow or die. I hope I am wrong.

KLM exiting SOU shows that the problem is not necessarily runway length at all but (arguably) its proximity to LHR

I understand what you’re saying RW20 but what does this have to do with KLM?

Are we sure these flights are not just switching to BOH ? Rigby said they wanted AMS and were talking to KLM

With circa 20k pax per month it's a well used route. KLM were filling most of their flights but the above would seem to indicate that there wasn't enough long-haul feed for them, possibly due to LHR's proximity as Sharklet 321 says.
The underlying point-to-point demand still seems strong though, given the number of pax flown by both KLM and Flybe from SOU.
Flybe's loads held up well after KLM's arrival, so no doubt this route will go back to being a money-spinner for them once the competition disappears.

That's really sad to hear. I guess KLM aren't interested in the point to point leisure market and just want longhaul feed.
I wonder if LHR's dominance in longhaul over the years has led to a lot of business travellers in the south building up FF miles/points on BA and other LHR carriers which won't be easily ditched in favour of a shorter drive to SOU. Plus also just the general ingrained habit of looking at flight options from London given the historical lack of local options.

I’d agree 100% it’s about mindset, timing and TOTAL cost vs convenience. Marketing is the only antidote to mindset and well outside of ‘enthusiast’ and industry forums let’s be honest ‘who knew?’

Explaining an international ‘Hub’ to the general public isn’t easy - they don’t perceive for example Dubai or Singapore as a Hub - they see it as a ‘stop off’ -tradition says long haul Heathrow or maybe Gatwick - especially in the South.

Its not all doom at SOU let’s remeber it’s communications - rail especially - is second to none - it probably either has to accept its a regional small airport and rely on FlyBe or whoever takes over viable routes or it works on its grand plan and actually delivers a runway extension and stand alterations and tap into the EU City market with EZ and put all endeavours into courting them. As a city break or EU business hub it could work as a viable alternative BUT only if a a320 can land and take off unrestricted. But they know that, let’s hope they stop saying and get on to more doing.

lets keep positive the plus points of the airport are huge. As I have said before leave the buckets and spades to the airport better equipped with FR on board at BOH.

Lets think positive!

I don't think anyone has said so specifically, the only people who'll know anything about the yield of the route will be KLM's accounting division.

What I did say was the fact that the flights were regularly full (therefore including the more expensive business class seats) might indicate that at least some money was being made. But again that's just my opinion, I've got no facts to back that up. It didn't look like a little-used route whose days were numbered, that's for sure.

I agree with StewyB though, two airlines flying mostly full aircraft several times a day would indicate (to me at least) that there's a strong demand for this route, even if only point to point, based on KLM's experience.