About Southampton Airport
Since the construction of its new terminal in the early 2000s, Southampton Airport has continued to evolve and expand its operations. Recently, significant developments have been made, including the official opening of a runway extension in September 2025. This £17-million investment extended the northern end of the runway by 164 meters, enabling the airport to accommodate more airlines and offer new routes and services, thereby enhancing connectivity for both business and leisure travel in the Southampton region and beyond. The project not only promises to bolster the airport’s future viability but is also expected to generate substantial social and economic benefits for the surrounding areas. To support the government’s effort to create economic opportunities, this initiative is projected to create 2,000 new jobs and open the city to more international routes.
Furthermore, Southampton Airport has broadened its flight and holiday offerings, with destinations that cater to a variety of interests, including city breaks, beach holidays, and local expeditions. Passengers can now book flights to numerous destinations such as Alderney, Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast, Bergerac, Chambery, Dublin, Edinburgh, Faro (Algarve), Geneva, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Majorca, Malaga (Costa del Sol), Newcastle, and Paris. This expansion of services underscores Southampton Airport’s commitment to enhancing its operational capacity and service offerings to meet the diverse needs of its passengers
A short history of Southampton Airport
The history of Southampton Airport goes back more than one hundred years. In 1910, the original North Stoneham farm meadows, which make up the airport site today, were used by RAF pilot Edwin Rowland Moon for takeoff and landing purposes. The hangars built by American soldiers during the First World War were used as dormitories once the war was over, as there were a large number of refugees passing through the site in order to reach the Southampton Docks on their way to America. This improvised hostel was closed in 1931, and a year later, the airport was officially opened under the name of Southampton Municipal Airport. Until the late 1970s, the airport only operated flights to and from the Channel Islands, London, Bristol, Plymouth, the Isle of Wight, Birmingham, Glasgow, and some destinations across the Channel in France. During the following 20 years, Southampton Airport underwent a series of redevelopments, which turned the facility into one of the top 20 busiest airports in the United Kingdom. Between 1990 and 2008, more than £30 million was invested in modernising and expanding the site so that it could accommodate the increasing demands from passengers and airlines.
The facility’s name was changed to Southampton International Airport in 1994, and the following year it was the recipient of several awards, including a prize for Best Structured Steel Design, Customer Care, Building of the Year Award, and the British Construction Industry Award. Today, Southampton has kept with its reputation and has since received the Best Regional Airport, Company of the Year, Best Marketing Strategy, Top UK Airport, and Third Best Airport in the World award.
Recently cancelled or delayed flights at Southampton Airport
Here you’ll find delays and cancellations at Southampton Airport that could entitle you to financial compensation. Use our online calculator to check your entitlement to compensation and let Flightright do the rest of the work.
Delays and Cancellations
Flights operated out of Southampton Airport by Flybe and Air France are statistically the most likely to be delayed. On average, three flights per day were cancelled, and eight were delayed in their arrival time at Southampton Airport. Being a regional airport, Southampton is a good alternative for those who wish to avoid delays caused by long check-ins and security clearance queues. For live flight information, passengers can visit the airport’s website. In addition, passengers can register for flight updates and text messages.
Have you been one of the many passengers to experience a flight delay or cancellation at Southampton Airport? Click below to see how much you might be able to claim in compensation with the help of Flightright!
Delay, cancellation, overbooking, missed connecting flight? You are entitled to:
Short distance up to 1500 km | Medium distance up to 3500 km | Long distance of 3500 km |
|---|---|---|
e.g. London – Edinburgh | e.g. London – Athens | e.g. London – Tokyo |
£220* | £350* | £520* |
*Minus commission (usually 20 to 30% [if nec. plus attorney’s fee of 14% ] plus VAT) if claimed through our service
Statistical Overview of Airlines at Southampton Airport in 2025
According to Flightright Data, Southampton Airport had 8,472 scheduled flights in 2025. Out of these, 225 flights were cancelled, representing 2.66% of all scheduled flights. In addition, 31 flights were delayed, making up 0.37% of the total. There were 256 incidents, which constituted 3.02% of all departing flights. Southampton experienced a diverse range of airline operations.
The most active carrier was Loganair, operating a total of 2,957 flights with 71 cancellations and 7 delays. Following close behind, Blue Islands managed 1,835 flights, with 23 cancellations and 10 delays. Overall, the operational data from Southampton Airport in 2025 showcases the performance and reliability of its busiest airlines.
Top 5 Airlines At Southampton Airport In 2025
Below is the table listing the top 5 airlines at Southampton Airport in 2025, based on the number of flights, cancellations, and delays.
Airline Name | Total Flights | Cancellations | Delays |
|---|---|---|---|
Loganair | 2957 | 71 | 7 |
Blue Islands | 1835 | 23 | 10 |
Aer Lingus | 1254 | 17 | 1 |
Aurigny Air Services | 1001 | 69 | 0 |
KLM Cityhopper | 584 | 17 | 2 |
What rights do I have?
Under UK law, you can get up to £520 compensation in the event of a delay, cancellation or overbooking of your flight. This is true regardless of the ticket price and up to 6 years retrospectively.
What to do when delayed?
gather information
Take photos
You are entitled to vouchers
Keep documents from the airline, such as letters, tickets, and vouchers
What rights do I have as a passenger if my flight is canceled due to a strike at Southampton Airport?
If your flight is planned to depart from Southampton and there is a strike at the airport, first check if your flight is affected by the cancellations due to the strike. According to the UK/EU Passenger Rights Regulation, you are entitled to alternative transportation or a refund of the ticket price. In addition, you may be entitled to compensation if there are no extraordinary circumstances and it is an internal airline strike. Contact your airline for further information regarding substitute transportation, rebooking, or ticket refund, as well as on-site services such as meals and, if necessary, accommodation and transportation to the hotel.
Can I get compensation if my flight is delayed or canceled at Southampton due to a strike?
A flight cancellation or significant delay of more than three hours due to a strike is often considered an extraordinary circumstance, provided the strike is not within the control of the airline or its personnel. There is no entitlement to compensation in case of extraordinary circumstances. However, passengers should be aware of their rights to basic care and catering services at Southampton Airport. This includes meals, refreshments, and, if necessary, accommodation, depending on the duration of the delay and the flight distance. Also, important to know: If your flight is canceled because the airline staff is on strike, you are entitled to a refund of your ticket price, alternative transportation, on-site catering, and additional compensation.
Your flight from Southampton Airport did not go as planned?
Passengers may be entitled to compensation for flight delays, cancellations, and overbooking under UK law. Flightright enforces your rights.
We will help you claim compensation for:
Your flight did not go as planned?
In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.