OVER the Moon. That is how they were feeling at Southampton Airport last night as they celebrated a soaraway success story.

It was party time as the airport marked the tenth anniversary of the opening of the new terminal - and there was plenty for those present to celebrate.

For since that royal send-off by The Duke of York on December 9, 1994, it has become the fastest-growing airport in the BAA group.

Over the past ten years a grand total of eight million passengers have flown through the airport, which equates to the population of Austria.

In 1994, about 500,000 passengers a year travelled through Southampton Airport to 17 destinations.

Now there are nearly three times as many passengers flying to almost 40 destinations.

Ten years ago it was mainly a business airport and today it is still popular with the executive jet set.

However, with the boom in low fares airlines there has also been a significant increase in leisure destinations on offer.

The airport now connects to 11 European countries.

BAA has invested more than £50m in the past ten years in the modern facilities at Southampton.

This year alone £6m will be pumped into further developing passenger facilities, including the expansion of the departure lounge and an upgrade of the check-in and baggage systems.

Airport managing director David Cumming said: "The airport now embraces 39 destinations served by 16 scheduled and chartered operators together with executive jet services of resident aircraft operator Club 328.

"More than 1,000 people are employed at Southampton Airport and this could grow to 2,186 people by 2012.

"I am very proud of our achievements over the past ten years."

So there was much to celebrate last night as the airport pushed the boat out on a party which was called Over the Moon.

The singing group Tenors in Cognito got staff and passengers in a celebratory mood by singing Happy Birthday in the passenger concourse.

Hangar 2 was given the night club makeover as 200 guests from a wide cross-section of the community sat down to a special dinner and toasted the airport's important milestone.

The dinner invite was also an opportunity to a say a big thank you to those who played a major role in the success of the airport.

It was also a fundraising evening for the Jubilee Sailing Trust.

Stilt walkers mingled with the guests, which included Eastleigh mayor Councillor June Hughes and Southampton first citizen Councillor Dennis Harryman.

They all joined in singing a big happy birthday to an airport which is clearly walking tall and flying high in the aviation world.