SOARAWAY Southampton Airport has recorded another thumping 79 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of passengers for the second month in a row - making it the fastest growing airport in Britain.

Figures released by airport operators BAA showed that a total of 13.7 million passengers passed through BAA's seven UK airports last month - a 3.6 per cent rise on the same point last year.

Southampton had the biggest growth as it passed the one million passengers within a year milestone.

More than 140,000 passengers - equivalent to over 4,500 a day - used the fast-track airport for central southern England last month.

But the airport said the number of planes taking off and landing had only increased by 24 per cent compared with August 2002. There are now just over 100 flights per day.

An airport spokeswoman said: "The largest growth area is in international travel, with nearly half of all passengers using Southampton Airport in August to travel to European destinations.

Flybe's new range of European destinations were particularly popular during the school holidays, including the recently established routes to Alicante, Malaga, Bergerac and Toulouse, all recording their highest passenger numbers to date.

"Well established routes to the Channel Islands (up 32 per cent), Amsterdam, Cork, and British Airways' CitiExpress services to Edinburgh and Glasgow all reported increases in passenger numbers compared to August 2002."

But it's not all good news for the airport. Southampton based chairman of the Airport Pressure Group, Mary Finch, told the Daily Echo: "They have had an absolute bag full of complaints about noise.

"They have received so many that they cannot cope with the letters that they are supposed to send out in response."

She added: "Everyone around the airport is complaining about the noise, pollution - the smell from aircraft fuel is really strong - and the height of the aircraft.

"As far as I am concerned the onslaught of cheap airline fares has meant that they don't seem to be adhering to the route system, whereby the aircraft should go on certain flight paths."

An airport spokesman said: "We remain very conscious of the impact that noise, or any other aircraft-related activity, can have on people who live close to the airport. As such, the

Southampton Airport team remains firmly committed to listening to the views of the public and, where possible, reacting so that a positive outcome can be achieved for all concerned.

"With regard to aircraft routing, we have tight controls on the routing, noise and height of aircraft which have been incorporated into a legally binding Flying Controls Agreement, which is strictly adhered to and monitored by Eastleigh Council."