2000 was a hectic year for Southampton Airport as it consolidated its position as one of Europe's fastest growing international and domestic gateways...

SOUTHAMTON'S award winning airport repeatedly received the highest scores within BAA for its customer services and ease of use.

More and more people are turning from motorway journeys to the traditional London airports and packed passenger

terminals at Heathrow and Gatwick, and opting for the convenience of Southampton.

The last 12 months have been a calendar of successes for the airport:

January

* British Airways Dublin Services operated by British Regional Airline tripled to three flights a day.

* New daily British Airways Frankfurt service operated by British Regional Airline started.

* The British Airways Newcastle to Aberdeen service operated by Brymon Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways, increased to two services per weekday.

* Joan Fletcher joined Southampton Airport as the new operations director.

February

* The prickliest passenger yet flew into Southampton Airport - a hedgehog from Alderney travelled through the terminal to spend the winter in the Cotswolds.

* Prize money totalling £500 from the KPMG Hampshire Company of the Year Award was donated to the Piam Brown Children's Cancer Care Ward at Southampton General Hospital

* Southampton Airport joined the hunt for volunteers for the forthcoming BAA Millennium Youth Games

March

* The new Air France jet service started, increasing flights to three a day.

* Jan Halliday head of marketing and public affairs visited Tours Airport to build links and share the experience of developing a regional airport.

* St Patrick's Day celebrations - dancers from Sean Eireann McMahon Academy performed in the airport terminal.

* British Regional Airlines announced increased frequency on the Jersey service for the summer schedule.

April

* Channel Island Holiday Show held at the airport attracted around 3,000 people and raised more than £600 for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

* Launch of the BAA Millennium Youth Games and the BAA Southampton Airport Hampshire Youth Games

* Air Transport Forum held at Southampton Airport.

May

* Britannia starts operations from Southampton on Thomson's Minorca service.

* Thomson Summer Sun schedule started to Minorca, Mallorca and Ibiza.

* Jersey European renamed themselves and became British European.

* Southampton Airport supports BBC Music Live with Southampton Youth Brass Band playing in the terminal.

June

* ScotAirways increase frequency on the Amsterdam service to five per weekday.

* BAA Southampton Airport Hampshire Youth Games held in Aldershot.

* Southampton Airport assist Southampton City Council with Seawings 2000 flying display.

* Thomson Holidays announced the addition of Malaga to the summer schedule for 2001.

* The first ever Southampton Airport Runway Run raised in excess of £13,500 for more than 52 local charities, with over 300 runners.

July

* Southampton Airport reaches 800,000 passengers.

August

* BAA Millennium Youth Games in Southampton with the appearance of John Prescott and many sporting celebrities. More than 7,000 young people from across the UK congregated in Southampton for the Grand Finals.

September

* Fuel crisis but the airport carries on as normal with minimal effects to flights.

* The first flight of the Spitfire - commemorated at the airport, including a visit from Caroline Grace, the only woman currently flying one of the fighters in the world.

* Southampton Airport was voted the Best Regional Airport World Wide for its marketing strategy at the 'Routes Air Transport Conference' in Amsterdam. The Airport received the gold award for the second year running.

* Southampton Airport welcomed Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock when they travelled through to film Ground Force on the Channel Island of Jersey

* Transun operated four return flights between Southampton and Malta.

* The airport welcomed a delegation from Tours Airport to the South of England in partnership with the Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce.

October

* October was the fastest growing month for the airport during 2000 and showed an 18 per cent increase in passenger numbers. This is a result of new routes and increased services to Frankfurt, Dublin, Newcastle and Paris and additional demand for domestic routes such as

Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle due to problems on the rail network.

* Regular flyer, Archie Reeve clocks up 500 flights between Southampton and Jersey, the equivalent to flying nearly three times round the world.

* Southampton Airport Information Desk team donate £500 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The funds were raised as a result of the Runway Run in June.

* The airport gave the charity, KIDS South East £500 donation for raising over £1,800 at the Runway Run in June. The cheque was presented at a special dinner at the airport.

* Birthday celebrations for Aurigny Air Services at Southampton Airport. A birthday lunch was held for the directors and staff to celebrate 30 years of operation out of Southampton.

November

* First birthday for British Regional Airlines on the Jersey service.

* Thomson winter schedule began with the service to Tenerife.

* Thomson Holidays announced the addition of Alicante and Malaga to the winter schedule for 2001/02

December

* Sponsorship of the BBC Young Sports Woman of the Year Award, to round off Southampton Airport's year of sport.

* BAA chief executive, Mike Hodgkinson pays a visit to Southampton and presents three special awards for outstanding contribution to the local community to airport staff, Adam McCulloch, Annie O'Toole and Lisa Medway

* Southampton Airport was voted Regional Airport of the Year at the Regional Airline World Awards. British Regional Airlines was also voted Regional Airline of the Year at the same awards.

* Airport carol service attracted more than 300 people and raised £439 for the Piam Brown Children's Cancer Care Ward at Southampton General Hospital and KIDS South East.