That didn't take long.... :ok:

AGS selling SOU?
 

SOU up for sale?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/comp...vertelemetry=1

The most important character in your headline on that post is the question mark!

Class bit of journalism - something might happen (my emphasise)

Did you mean "class" or "crass"?

This is from speculation several months back. However wouldn’t be a surprise as AGS are having to restructure their debt mountain and SOU would most likely thrive with a new owner who actually gave it a little more care and attention. Yes AGS did invest in the runway extension but I’m not sure they are committed moving forward with growth etc

They can see the writing on the wall, as this year they have struggled with the crumbs?

It's always likely to be a struggle at SOU - or any other smallish UK airport. And the value of the land for development is just sooooo enticing..........................

The Question is do we need two regional airports within 30 miles of each other?
BOH is expanding rapidly and it has all the ingrediants for further expansion ,except road links.These could be rectified with investment.Then given the value of the land at SOU and it's road and railway links then there is only one answer !

So there was a time when airlines left Bournemouth for Southampton. Times change. There are ups and downs. Regional flights and pond hopping seem a thing of the past, but they may well come again, I suspect they will.

Southampton has a proud history, surely anyone who loves aviation would hope for better times soon. Why on earth would anyone want to see it fade away.

It would be lovely to be so hopeful but I fear the next discussion may be much less positive. Chickens coming home to roost and all that. I hope I am proven wrong but time will tell.

I helped out several years back on a full council
meeting with Eastleigh Borough Council to advocate for the runway extension. I had a discussion with the ops director at the time, and I stick by this now, Southampton continues to miss the opportunity to capitalise on the GA market. I know GA looks dirty when you’re trying to invite the likes of EZY/FR in, but I know of several GA pilots who share the same sentiment. You could fly into SOU and be in the city centre on a bus within 30 mins of chocking on.

As stated before just a reminder to the sensible posters to not take the bait from those looking for attention from strangers as they have nothing better to do with their lives.

As someone else has said BOH has had its low points and for most of recent history been in SOUs shadow. I standby my suspicion that this unnatural growth is the result of extreme and unsustainable incentives by BOH who probably think it’s worth the risk to ensure SOUs new runway does not become a success.

Also, what do FR, Tui and Jet2 all have in common? They all operate the 737 which is not fit for SOU. Plenty of Airbus operators out there who could operate from SOU.

I find it incredibly sad that some on here would rather see it go to the wall instead of supporting a local airport that has been for many decades a great regional departure point for many people, both business and leisure, serving domestic and international travel

I'm a Sotonian. What I want is a thriving local economy and if SOU can be part of that - great! But if the city (and, let's not forget, Eastleigh) can benefit more from a different usage of the site then we should at least consider that possibility.

But it's too early to be glum, 2024 could be a great year and 2025 should see the airport back in the black. And from there, who knows?

The main issue is that the UK has quite a few airports which are convenient but don't make much money. And large tracts of flat land are needed for business & housing. I just can't see that changing

This is all a bit of a leap from a speculative article suggesting that investors in the airport owners might be thinking of selling their shares? And if it's that good an idea - why would they?

Just because current investors may potentially sell their stakes, doesn’t mean that other suitors will not be on hand to take on structured debt and work with the airport for the future. Happens all the time in the business world!

W24/25 updates
 

Aer Lingus have put Belfast City and Dublin on sale for the winter, each operating 13x weekly.

KLM to Amsterdam returns to 14x weekly, but currently will be using larger aircraft from the start of 2025. Looking at a few dates in Jan/Feb there is the following:

6x E295 (Mon-Fri + Sun morning flight)
1x 737 (Sat morning flight)
7x E190 (Mon-Sun evening flight)

Flights in Nov/Dec are currently still showing as all E175's.

I agree it's too early to be glum, although summer 2024 could be better, will 2025 see the airport back in the 'running' ?

That's very much up to 'use it or lose it'.

Local advertising for what SOU Airport has to offer needs to improve drastically in all areas, and in all mediums of exposure, as does SOU's website.

Both KLM via AMS, and Aer Lingus via DUB offer fantastic Worldwide Interline flight connections, and in DUB you can pre-clear US Customs and Immigration which is a Godsend.

I cannot comment on Eastern Airways recently taking on the Paris–Charles de Gaulle route, except that the timings look pretty naff.
Eastern Airways said that the move will allow for expanded world-wide connectivity through the carrier’s Interline agreement with the Air France-KLM Skyteam Group
(not with those timings it won't)

If Easyjet do not get results this summer then they either won't expand, or worse case they won't be back for Summer 2025.

Jet2 Holidays are currently swamping 'Fly from Bournemouth' to the Public and to the Travel Agents, with Agency roadshows and daily airing peak time TV Ads and on local radio.
Jess Glynne is catchy, Jet2 Holidays are great, their chicken Tikka Masalas are amazing, good vibe, cheap flights friendly crews, they still playing Jess Glynne,
but why?....LOL