SOUTHAMPTON Airport faces a “huge opportunity” as it sets its sights on three million passengers a year, 2,000 staff and an influx of new businesses.

The boss of the Eastleigh airport says it can look to expand now that its future has been secured by the final go-ahead for a longer runway.

And he says he would like the site to be known as home of innovative electronic aircraft, just as Southampton was home to the Spitfire.

The Court of Appeal recently rejected the final attempts by campaigners to overturn Eastleigh Borough Council’s decision to approve a 164metre (538ft) extension to the airport’s runway.

In some of his first public comments since the court decision, Southampton Airport operations director Steve Szalay said the number of jobs at the airport would rise from the current 700 to around 2,000 when the airport reaches its goal of three million passengers a year.

The jobs will range from cleaners to pilots, with many in ground services such as baggage handling and security. 

He said: “It’s just a huge opportunity.”

He said the runway extension would go ahead in 2023, although the exact date could depend on the supply of labour.

Plans agreed with the council mean the airport cannot reach three million passengers until 2029. “It’s steady growth,” said Mr Szalay.

The number of passengers using the airport slumped to 200,000 amid the Covid crisis in 2021.

“In 2019, there were two million people through the airport. If we can put the flights on, they will come back,” said Mr Szalay.

“The more activity, the more staff required. It’s an exciting time.”

Speaking at the Business South conference in Southampton, he said more attention would shift to the Navigator Quarter – the land to the east and north of the airport that is earmarked for businesses as part of the Solent Freeport.

“Now that the runway extension is done and the debate’s over, hopefully we’ll see a lot more coming from us about the Navigator Quarter and that’s really exciting,” he told the event at the Hilton Ageas Bowl. 

“2022-23 is all about the runway but 2024-26 is all about the freeport and the Navigator Quarter,” he added.

Mr Szalay said he hoped the low-tax site would be a “hub” for innovative businesses.

“I would like it to be green technology. As we’re the home of the Spitfire, we could say we’re the home of electronic aircraft,” he added.

Mr Szalay told the event he was concerned about finding the staff required to keep up with demand.

“When I speak to people in the construction industry, finding the right skills and building the runway extension next year is going to be a challenge. But once that’s built, the staff that take us up from 700 to 2,000, where are they coming from?” he added.