Airline seats slashed by 236,000

BAA predicts three million passengers a year will use Southampton by 2015

Passenger capacity on flights out of Southampton and Bournemouth airports has been slashed by 236,000 seats in the last year.

Figures from the Official Airline Guide showed a 7% drop in flights out of Southampton to 3,201 - leading to 164,000 fewer seats available.

There was a 1% increase in flights out of Bournemouth but 72,000 fewer seats.

BAA, which runs Southampton Airport, said a record 1.96 million passengers passed through last year.

It maintains its predictions of about three million passengers using the airport each year by 2015 and about six million passengers annually by 2030.

Bournemouth Airport said its figures for actual passenger numbers for the same period were not available.

We're looking for help from the government in terms of aviation tax and we hope they appreciate that times are challenging for all of us

Flybe spokesman

John Strickland, director of independent air transport consultancy JLS, said: "It is indicative of a recession and trend we're seeing throughout country.

"Bournemouth is an airport which is very focused on leisure traffic, which may explain a small drop in capacity.

"Whereas Southampton has more business travellers which is an industry being hit hard."

This week, budget airline EasyJet, which operates at Bournemouth, saw a 45% drop in its profits this week.

A spokesman for Flybe said Southampton was fairing relatively well compared to many other UK regions.

"On the whole, we are finding it a challenge like everyone else but passenger figures for us are up from Southampton," he said.

"It is going to be difficult and we're looking for help from the government in terms of aviation tax and we hope they appreciate that times are challenging for all of us."