Southampton Airport success hits private pilots
25.01.06
Newly-released figures show that Southampton Airport is one of the fastest-growing regional airports in Europe. It handled 1.85m passengers in 2005, an increase of 20% on 2004 and was recently voted it one of the world's top three airports by Daily Telegraph readers. But private pilots say that this sucess is squeezing them out.
Guernsey Aero Club chairman Colin Ferbrache said that as Southampton airport developes, getting (plane) parking space is becaming increasingly difficult and charges have risen. 'There is a trend amongst all regional airports in the UK basically to discourage light aircraft from using their facilities,' he said
Mr Ferbrache added that during the redevelopment of the airfield in the late 1990s, land was sold off for non-aviation uses, such as the Post Office and engineering companies. That took away parking spaces and with the increase in transporter aircraft, they needed more space on the apron for their operations. 'This has left only a very small area for any visiting light and corporate aircraft.'
He said that costs were also prohibitive. 'Costs are very high, one of the highest of airports on the south coast.' The changes limited how many local pilots now went to Southampton. He said that local fliers were heading to Shoreham, Chichester / Goodwood or Bournemouth instead.
These other airports, though, did not have the same transport links, such as rail or hire cars, that Southampton airport enjoys.
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