Southampton Airport is committed to being a good neighbour, and there are a number of initiatives in place to minimise the impact of noise on local communities. Here are some examples:

Working with airline partners
New aircraft are much quieter than they were 40, 30 or even 20 years ago. Southampton Airport actively encourages its airline partners to minimise noise disturbance wherever possible by investing in new technology. For example, Flybe are investing significantly in new aircraft. The new Embraer 195 aircraft has replaced the older BAe 146 aircraft based at Southampton Airport. The new aircraft creates a noise footprint which is up to 35% smaller and uses 20% less fuel than the aircraft type it is replacing. Southampton Airport will continue to work with its airline partners to encourage the use of quieter aircraft.

Technical Working Group
The Technical Working Group is made up of officers from Eastleigh, Southampton and Winchester councils, the Chairman of Southampton Airport Consultative Committee, airlines, NATS and Southampton Airport. This group has been established to consider ways of minimising noise, and discusses technical issues such as improvements to aircraft routeing.

Listening to our Neighbours

Valuing Community Feedback
Southampton Airport has a dedicated Noise & Flight Evaluation Unit which records and investigates feedback and enquiries received from the local community about aircraft noise and routeings. The Unit is manned during office hours by specially trained staff who can answer questions and provide information. Outside office hours there is an answer phone available. All feedback and enquiries receive a personal response and are recorded and presented to the Southampton Airport Consultative Committee.