Southampton Airport (SOU)
Southampton Airport (SOU) serves 2 million passengers a year from a single terminal in Eastleigh, Hampshire, just 4 miles north of Southampton city centre. The airport's standout practical advantage is its railway station: Southampton Airport Parkway is a 2-minute walk from the terminal, with direct South Western Railway trains to London Waterloo in 1 hour 10 minutes and to Southampton Central in just 6 minutes.
easyJet is the dominant carrier, operating routes across Europe and to the Channel Islands, alongside BA CityFlyer's Heathrow feeder service and Aurigny's essential Channel Islands connections. Southampton is the natural choice for passengers across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex who would otherwise face a two-hour journey to Heathrow or Gatwick.
Southampton is also the UK's busiest cruise port — four cruise terminals handle P&O, Cunard, Royal Caribbean and MSC departures. Many cruise passengers fly into SOU and transfer directly to their ship, making the airport an important part of the city's broader maritime economy.
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Southampton Airport's single terminal
Southampton Airport operates a single terminal with a straightforward layout — check-in, security and the airside departures lounge are all accessible within a short walk. The railway station is the major advantage: Southampton Airport Parkway is connected to the terminal by a covered walkway and offers frequent South Western Railway services.
⚠️ Arrive at least 90 minutes before departure for European flights. The airport is compact and security is rarely problematic, but always allow reasonable time for check-in and bag drop.
Transport to Southampton Airport
| Train to Southampton Central | 6 min from Parkway · from £4 |
| Train to London Waterloo | 1h 10m from Parkway · from £25 (South Western Railway) |
| Train to Winchester | ~15 min from Parkway |
| Train to Bournemouth | ~45 min from Parkway · onward to Weymouth |
| Taxi to Southampton city centre | ~15–20 min · approx £10–15 |
| Taxi to cruise terminals | ~20–25 min · approx £12–18 |
| Drive (M27/A335) | 4 miles north of Southampton city centre |
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Pre-booking online can save up to 60% compared to turning up without a reservation.
Airlines flying from Southampton Airport
Southampton Airport jobs
No listing named Southampton Airport on 4 Nov. Vacancies within 5 miles, and where the airlines recruit cabin crew and pilots, are on the jobs page.
Things to do near Southampton Airport
The most-booked tours and tickets in Southampton with a rating of 4.3 or better from at least 100 reviews. Prices are per person, as seen on 4 Nov.
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Southampton Airport FAQs
In the week to 4 Nov we saw non-stop fares from Southampton to 17 destinations. The cheapest one-way fares seen were Manchester £20, Glasgow £22, Paris £23, Belfast International £24 and Geneva £24.
The lowest one-way fare we saw this week was £20 to Manchester with easyJet, for travel on 4 Dec (seen on 3 Nov). It is a fare seen on that date, not a live price.
Airlines seen selling non-stop flights from Southampton this week: easyJet (11 destinations), Aurigny (2 destinations) and Loganair (2 destinations).
Southampton Airport Parkway station is a 2-minute covered walk from the terminal. South Western Railway operates direct services to London Waterloo in approximately 1 hour 10 minutes (from £25), to Southampton Central in 6 minutes (£4), and to Winchester in 15 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes to London and more frequently locally. This is the best transport option for most passengers.
For passengers in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire or West Sussex, Southampton is usually far more convenient than Heathrow. No M25, no tube journey, no Terminal 5 queues — Southampton Parkway is on the mainline and a 2-minute walk from the terminal. SOU serves Amsterdam, Barcelona, Faro, Edinburgh and Channel Islands routes. For long-haul, Heathrow or Gatwick remains necessary.
Yes. Southampton Airport has an airside lounge open to passengers for a fee, regardless of airline or ticket class. Priority Pass and Lounge Key are accepted. Pre-booking online gives the best rates and guarantees entry. The lounge offers complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi and a quieter pre-flight environment.
Yes. Car hire desks are in the terminal arrivals hall. Major operators include Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, Budget and Sixt. Pre-booking online saves significantly over walk-up rates. Southampton is ideal for exploring the New Forest, the Isle of Wight (ferry from Southampton), Bournemouth and the Dorset coast.
Yes. Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port, with four terminals handling P&O, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Celebrity departures. The airport is 4–6 miles from the city's cruise terminals — approximately 15–20 minutes by taxi (£12–18). Many cruise passengers fly into Southampton and transfer directly to their ship.
Options include Short Stay (covered walkway to terminal — closest), Long Stay (free shuttle bus —), and Meet & Greet (drive directly to terminal). Pre-book online to save up to 60% compared to turning up without a reservation.
A taxi from Southampton Airport to Southampton city centre takes approximately 15–20 minutes and costs £10–15. For the cruise terminals, allow 20–25 minutes and budget £12–18. The train from Parkway to Southampton Central (6 minutes, £4) is faster and cheaper for the city centre.