Doubt the Tue TUI flight will run as it didn’t this summer!

Gradually BA are slipping away from there original SOU routes,it's such a shame the runway extension is not in progress,because it's the lifesaver the airport needs,without it I don't think SOU could survive in the long term given the current losses.

Went past on the train the other day and the land where the extended car park is being built has fencing around it. A sign works are starting imminently?

CityFlyer said in their accounts filed recently that they were reducing from 24 to 21 aircraft. If you don't have as many aircraft on weekdays at LCY, you'll have less to fly at SOU at weekends. Conflating that with the SOU runway extension is a stretch, to put it mildly.

They're already down to 22 aircraft, with one parked at NWI since 24 September

How many aircraft do you need to park at LCY Saturday night ready for Sunday lunchtime departures from LCY in August?

It is definitely in progress. You just can’t see anything happening yet.

Emerald/Aer Lingus are increasing Dublin to 13x weekly next summer (2x ex. Sat). Belfast City is not yet on sale for the summer.

Does anyone know the reason why flight LM327 from Edinburgh that was due to arrive at Southampton at 19.25 last night (Friday) diverted to Bournemouth.

The reason why I ask is that I had noticed that it had diverted on the Southampton Airport arrivals screen.

Pretty foggy in areas last night - would guess it was low vis related.

One of the problems SOU will always face is the lack of Cat III ILS. I think there is not enough space and too much metal around to allow a protected area.
The fog occurs as the airport is right next to the river Itchen and in a shallow valley.
When I worked there 2017-19 there were a number of occasions when all or most evening arrivals diverted. Not good for the passengers and not good for the morning departures, ie. no aircraft.

In theory 0 if you'e got enough alternatives elsewhere Sat pm and Sun am to then operate back in on the first wave(s) Sunday lunchtime.

As indicated in my post 996, the future for SOU is GPS based RNAV-LPV instrument approach procedures for RWY 02, and also 20. All it needs is the UK government to sort out access to EGNOS or an alternative satellite system to provide the required signal augmentation necessary for LPV accuracy.

Apart from restoring the lower approach minima that was available for RWY 02 prior to June 2021 with LPV IAP, there is a possibility that lower minima for RWY 20 may be possible, albeit with some improvements to approach lighting and other ground based infrastructure.

CAT III will never be available at SOU, but on the rare occasions that it is needed does it not make business sense for someone less than a 45 minutes drive away to have all the expense of providing it for you, at no cost?

Belfast City now on sale - also 13 weekly at very similar times.

With the current speculation as to whether or not the runway extension work has commenced, I offer the following observations, and one suggestion.

While there may be some preparatory work in progress, the planning and execution of the project is strictly regulated by a CAA aerodrome development process, as set out in CAP 791.

As a runway extension is classified IAW CAP 791 as a “major” development there are multiple regulatory hoops through which AGS must negotiate, and pay the CAA for the privilege of doing so!

First hoop, before any work can commence, is CAA approval of the overall project planning and execution plan.

The CAA are not renowned for their speed of work, so hopefully the CAP 791 process has already been commenced by AGS.

Part of the planning process is recognition of the impact that the construction work will have on any aircraft movements, and putting in place mitigation measures to ensure that they can safely continue.

An overview of the project, its scheduling and its temporary impact on aircraft movements will be most likely be set out in a UK AIP Supplement, which itself may have short term issues highlighted or notified via NOTAM as the project progresses.

When the AIP Supplement is published it can be accessed online via:

https://nats-uk.ead-it.com/cms-nats/...p-supplements/

AIP Supplements are published every 28 days. As of today nothing is currently shown. The next batch of Supplements are due for publication on 17 November.

Quite apart from the formal notification of the date that work will commence, I would think that the AGS media organisation will not miss the opportunity to have some symbolic turf cutting ceremony. or similar, immediately before construction starts.

My suggestion? Maybe the BOH Airport Managing Director could be invited to do it?

TCAS FAN,
Thanks for your continued assessment on the proposed runway extension.
First of all the airport manager has stressed that work will hopefully commence in 2023,but with no specific date,however he stressed that finding the workforce might present some problems.
I've looked at the actual work that's going on today,and it appears that some perimeter wooden fencing is being installed,but that's all!
With the on going economic situation it's not clear when SOU will see the benefits of the runway extension,certainly not in 2023.
Clearly the airport is loosing a lot of money due to low Paxs compared to recent times. This can't be allowed to be continued,so it's get on with the runway improvements,or
accept the airport is not viable in the long term.

I cannot imagine the capital expenditure on the extension without a nod from an airline, or airlines that post construction, they will base airframes, or operate daily multiple rotations?

Which is why EZY will most likely be straight in with PMI/AGP/FAO non based summer flying

I can remember folk here used to compare Southampton with the longer runway Southend that was booming at the time. Well it is not booming now, which is always worth remembering.

If you think SOU is going to revert to how SEN is now, then you are very much mistaken. SOU is doing ok, not great not bad. Aer Lingus are going double daily with BHD & DUB whilst KLM go double daily on 30/10 to AMS and with BE likely to increase its footprint, things are ticking along with 6/700k pax per annum. I do however agree that the runway extension must be a priority and don’t think the airport has 12 months to ponder before it can open the new tarmac. Financial losses will continue to build so as RW20 suggests, they need to get on with it PDQ!