Southampton Airport SOU: Departures and guide

Flying from/to Southampton Airport

If you are planning to fly to/from Southampton Airport, check out our tips on what’s the best way to travel between the airport and the city center. It’s always good to know, what’s the most convenient way to get to your destination. You can also find some data on the Southampton Airport facilities and some local tips on the airport itself.

Travel from Southampton city center to Southampton Airport

Southampton is the largest city in southeast England. The town is famous for having some of the most well preserved medieval town walls in England. Southampton is home to one of the major cruise ports in Europe, and millions of cruise visitors pass through it every year. Southampton has an excellent range of transportation systems to take care of travelers. Several bus companies provide services to different routes within and outside the city. There is also a local railway line running across the city. Southampton Airport is the largest airport in the area and connects the city to other major cities across Europe and beyond. The average distance from the city center to the airport is about four miles (6.5 kilometers). 

What's the best way to get to the airport from the city center?

Southampton Airport Parkway is a dedicated mainline railway station that serves Southampton Airport. The station is located about  a one-minute walk from the airport terminal, making it one of the nearest airport links throughout Europe. Cross Country Trains and South Western Railway operate from the city center to the airport every 10 minutes.  Passengers can conveniently get to the airport via Unilink buses running to and from the city center and the airport every 15 minutes throughout the day. The journey by bus takes about 45 minutes. Night buses run every 60 minutes on Friday and Saturday. Taxis are also available for quick access to the airport from the city center on a 24-hour basis. 

How far is it from the city center to the airport?

Southampton airport is an international airport in Southampton, in England. The airport is located four miles (6.5 kilometers) northeast of Southampton city center bordering the Borough of Eastleigh. Southampton Airport handles about two million passengers per year and is operated and owned by AGS Airports. Travelers can get to the airport from the city center using various public transportation with a choice of buses, trains, car rentals and taxis.   Southampton airport is close to the junction between M3 motorway and M27 motorway junction, providing easy road access to Southampton, Bournemouth, Winchester, Portsmouth and Poole.

What facilities are there at the airport?

Several services and facilities are available at the airport. A currency exchange bureau is located at the main square where passengers can exchange their currency. Cash machines that dispense British pounds, as well as euros, are also available.  Travelers can pre-book any parking options, with all of the parking being as close to the terminal as possible. Free  four hour WiFi access in the whole terminal structure is accessible via any internet-enabled device. The Priority Lounge at the airport provides a perfect place for leisure and business passengers to relax before their flight. For passengers who smoke, there is a designated smoking zone located just out of the terminal. Other facilities in the airport include a medical center, lost property, shops, restaurants, car rentals and left luggage.

How accessible is the route for those with limited mobility?

Southampton Airport is dedicated to improving the journey for those with limited mobility who need extra assistance. Some of the facilities for passengers with a disability or limited mobility include; elevators to the departure lounge, payphones that are located at a lower level and adapted for hearing aids, induction loops that amplify conversations or announcements for passengers wearing hearing aids, and text payphones accessible in the main concourses and departures lounge. The airport has reserved seating areas for passengers with limited mobility with space for armrests, wheelchairs and induction loops. There are special assistance providers that assist travelers with limited mobility through the check-in process and onward to the security search area. If a disabled passenger needs assistance in the airport and onboard the flight, they should inform the travel airline at least 48 hours in advance for proper arrangements to be made.  

Local Tips: How to travel to the airport like a local

One of the unique transportation systems for touring the city by bicycle. The Southampton county council provides route maps, making it possible to travel to and from the airport by bike.  However, the cheapest and quickest way to get to the airport from Southampton is by train. The rail station is about a one-minute walk to the terminal, making one of the closest stations in the UK if not Europe. Buses offer convenient means of traveling from the city center to the airport. Travelers in too much of a hurry to wait for the bus can opt for the readily available taxis.