Bolstered by a high-flying performance last year, which saw a record 753,698 passengers pass through the terminal, and with a £3 million investment in resurfacing the runway successfully completed, BAA-owned Southampton International is one of the fastest growing regional airports in Europe.

Southampton International, shortlisted for the prestigious KPMG/Daily Echo Hampshire Business of the Year award, is now not only firmly established on the international and domestic network of scheduled services, it is also rapidly growing in popularity for its holiday charter operations.

The latest company to team up with Southampton International is Premier Holidays, which will centre its programme around UK and European destinations operated by several of the airlines based at the airport, but predominately services flown by British Regional Airlines.

"Southampton continues to be one of the most successful operating bases and over the past year we have enjoyed growing passenger numbers,'' said British Regional Airlines' commercial director, Mike Bathgate.

A British Airways franchise partner, the airline pioneered state-of-the-art Embraer 145 regional jets at Southampton on its routes to Edinburgh and Glasgow18 months ago, cutting up to 30 minutes off the flying time. In addition, the 145 is now serving Brussels and Dublin from the city.

Last month Thomson Holidays, the country's biggest tour operator, recommenced summer charters with an expanded list of flights which include Palma, now twice-weekly, a new programme featuring Menorca, and weekly flights to Ibiza.

Next year, Thomson will be introducing the Boeing 757 aircraft to Southampton when its Menorca and Ibiza services transfer to Britannia Airways. In addition, Thomson will be featuring their own cruises for the first time from Southampton, linking with the Majorca flights next year.

Aurigny Air Services, the longest established airline at Southampton with its flights to and from Alderney, has started an aircraft expansion plan with the arrival of its first Saab 340, which will become a regular visitor to the airport.

Suckling Airways carried 43,000 passengers in its first year on the Southampton to Amsterdam route. Larger, 50-seat aircraft are currently being studied now the airline is achieving high passenger numbers on its present Dornier 328s.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.