CAMPAIGNERS have launched a petition calling on airline bosses to improve services from Southampton.

Robert Nagy has collected more than 900 signatures so far in a bid to urge Flybe Southampton bosses to review timetables and introduce direct flights from the city to Budapest and Hungary.

In just three days his petition had collected 800 supporters and now he is calling for a final push to reach the 1,000 signature target.

The father-of-two from Southampton said: “Travellers across the south are very keen to put pressure on Flybe bosses to convince the scheduling team to review their timetables and introduce direct flights from Southampton and/or Bournemouth to Budapest Airport - as they did from North of England recently.

“Thousands of travellers from the south fly to Budapest every year, but have to deal with extra driving, parking, unpredictable traffic and stress to miss the plane to get to London Airports. People from Southampton, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Guildford, Aldershot, and other cities in the M3 corridor, understand now and want to fly from Southampton Airport directly to Budapest airport avoiding all London routes.”

The campaign comes five years after the It’s My Airport scheme was launched to convince travellers to go local and use Southampton Airport instead of London when possible.

Mr Nagy, a senior SEO consultant, said this campaign was part of his inspiration for starting the petition and said more direct and cheaper flights to Budapest would encourage customers to use the city airport.

On the petition page, Mr Nagy said: “Have you still got family back home to visit in Hungary? Perhaps you are planning your special day or a hen party or weekend in Budapest? A short getaway or just a quick trip with the boys to Hungary?”

He added: “This is important. If successful it will be cutting the travelling time by at least five hours, therefore gaining time and making considerable savings on travelling expenses. Having no traffic and a stress-free flight experience to Budapest with Flybe would help many people.”

To find out more or sign the petition, visit: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/cheap-flights-to-budapest-from-southampton-bournemouth