British Airways launches flights from Southampton – 11 routes bookable

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Here’s one you didn’t see coming. British Airways, via its BA CityFlyer subsidiary, is launching 11 routes from Southampton next Summer.

Southampton was, as the picture below shows, a major Flybe base before the airline collapsed earlier this year. The services will be a welcome respite for the airport which lost virtually all of its scheduled services.

The BA flights will use Embraer aircraft which serve London City Airport during the week but have nothing to do when City is closed over the weekend.

(EDIT, May 2021 – the launch date for most of these routes has been pushed back from the dates shown below. Check ba.com for the latest information.)

To accommodate these flights, British Airways is cancelling the scheduled services from Manchester and London Stansted next Summer. This explains why so many HfP readers had reported getting cancellation emails for these services over the last few days.

Interestingly, the BBC reported yesterday that the airport has pulled its planning application for a runway extension. The airport said that it intended to submit ‘additional information’ in a revised application. This could be what they were talking about. A commitment from British Airways is likely to play a part in deciding whether to approve it.

BA CityFlyer flights Southampton summer 2021

What are the new BA routes from Southampton?

Most routes operate between May and 31st October on weekends only. Some services only operate to late September.

Berlin – starts 2nd May, Sunday out, Friday back
Edinburgh – starts 16th May, Sunday out, Friday back
Bergerac – starts 15th May, weekends plus Tuesday in peak season
Faro – starts 1st May
Florence – starts 1st May
Ibiza – starts 2nd May
Limoges – starts 15th May
Malaga – starts 1st May
Mykonos – starts 16th May
Nice – starts 15th May
Palma – starts 1st May

Live in London?

Many Londoners have probably never flown from Southampton. It is, however, surprisingly easy.

You can get a direct train from London Waterloo to Southampton Airport Parkway station. You will be in the small terminal building within a couple of minutes.

Is there a lounge?

Yes. Here is our review of the Spitfire Lounge at Southampton Airport.

Booking

Flights are now available for booking via ba.com.

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Category

British Airways and Avios

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

ChrisC says:

9 Dec9 December 13:27

This isn’t going to make one iota of a difference to the planning application the airport is going to resubmit or to the decision councillors will make on that application.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 14:30
  
  Nonsense. Never in a million years would they approve expansion if no-one was showing interest in flying from there.
  
  What is true is that BA will never use the A320/737 that the extension would permit.
  - ChrisC says:
    
    9 Dec9 December 15:03
    
    It’s not nonsense.
    
    A decision by council planning committee isn’t going to hinge on a few flights on a weekend for six months of the year because it’s not a planning consideration.
    
    The economics (or not) of a planning application are not a factor in determining a planning application. A council cannot reject an application because it thinks a business won’t make money or a facilty won’t get used.
    
    The economics of a business expansion are for the business owner not the planning system.
    - Mr(s) Entitled says:
      
      9 Dec9 December 15:10
      
      This is correct.
      
      What subjective matters potentially sway a decision however are much harder to identify.
  - Callum says:
    
    9 Dec9 December 23:22
    
    I doubt that BA CityFlyer, an airline that has a history of abruptly pulling out of regional airports, operating weekend flights for a single summer is some kind of major draw that would encourage the council to change their mind! Especially, as you’ve said, the extension has no impact whatsoever on the viability of BA offering services from there because they’d have no use for it.
    
    The local objections (from both the public and the councils) are based almost exclusively on NOT wanting more/bigger planes due to noise and environmental pollution – not a fear that there wouldn’t be enough. Precisely why they were forced into including a passenger cap in their application.
stevenhp1987 says:

9 Dec9 December 14:04

As someone who lives in Southampton… this is excellent news!
stevenhp1987 says:

9 Dec9 December 14:06

Hmmm, seems you cannot book via BA Holidays?

“Sorry, we don’t offer hotels or car rental from this location”

Is there reasoning behind that? Or an oversight?
- Rhys says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 14:25
  
  Probably just a delay in getting it all lined up.
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    9 Dec9 December 14:33
    
    Yeh, looks it.
    
    If you look at a flight, then add a hotel to it, it can do a BA Holiday that way.
    
    A tad expensive though… if they don’t get lowered it’ll be redemption only for us (unless there’s the usual BA Holiday deals)!
Jamie Collins says:

9 Dec9 December 15:59

We live 3 miles form Southampton Airport so just did a comparison with LHR for a week in Malaga in June. £300 return from SOU versus £115 return from LHR. So worth driving and parking at LHR for a saving of £370 for a couple 🙁
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 16:17
  
  Avios redemption is a winner though? Cash prices are exceedingly high and I hope they get reduced soon enough.
  
  When comparing redemptions against LHR or LGW, you just jump in a taxi or take the U2A (depending on your location) and arrive within < 30 mins until departure.
  
  I've left my house for flights from SOU with less than 45mins before departure before!
  - Alex says:
    
    9 Dec9 December 17:47
    
    Also only live around 10-15 mins for Southampton airport so very happy about this announcement! Avios redemptions I’m sure will be a winner until prices drop but convenience cannot be ignored! 👌
    - Mikeact says:
      
      10 Dec10 December 08:06
      
      Pricing will always be a problem for SOU….they seem to think we will pay a premium for a local service. You try and complain and see the reply you get.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 16:31
  
  It will come down, I’m sure.
Tom says:

9 Dec9 December 20:31

Why would Southampton need a second runway, surely their operations aren’t even close to the other single runway airports like Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham?
- Lord Bruton says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 20:56
  
  Southampton is not after a 2nd runway. It was planning a runway extension. Not so subtle difference….
  - Rob says:
    
    9 Dec9 December 21:59
    
    … because the current one is too short for the planes that easyJet, Ryanair and BA mainline use. This is why is was a goldmine for Flybe, because there was no-one who could put up strong competition. It was too far from Scotland and the North for Loganair and Eastern.
    - Dubious says:
      
      10 Dec10 December 01:39
      
      Eastern did try at one time. I remember flying SOU-LBA (the flight continued onto NCL and then ABZ)
- Alex says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 21:20
  
  They were seeking to extend the length of just the single runway in order to be able to allow for larger aircraft to takeoff/land. It wasn’t a second runway due to capacity/volume of flights.
competeriot says:

9 Dec9 December 20:35

Looks like there’s a bunch of us here from the neighbourhood. Is there a local avgeek club? lol.
- Alex says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 21:21
  
  If there isn’t we need to start one! For all those MS chats we need to have and we can even speak in codes LOL
Tom says:

9 Dec9 December 20:38

Is STN no longer going to see weekend flights?
- Rob says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 22:01
  
  No
RH says:

9 Dec9 December 21:25

Am I right in thinking that it is only £35 per person to cancel Avios bookings still if I book this for the summer holidays next year and then change my mind? Thanks.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Dec9 December 21:58
  
  Yes
  - RH says:
    
    10 Dec10 December 12:17
    
    Thanks Rob. Just booked return flights for 24,000 plus a £1 each for 2 flights and 48,000 plus £1 for one business seat for the summer holidays when I normally pay a fortune. Southampton is convenient for me and I am Avios rich at the moment so this is a no-brainer!