The airports restaurant and café in the main concourse, and upstairs in the departure lounge are being completely refurbished at a cost of over £3 million. The first new landside restaurant and Costa Coffee has just been completed, and the airside outlets will re-open during April 2010. 

The new restaurants are named after the aircraft designer, RJ Mitchell, who built the Spitfire aircraft and tested the prototype at Southampton Airport in 1936. ‘Mitchell’s Kitchen & Bar’ provides a fresh new feel and bespoke menus specifically created with the time-conscious traveller in mind. 

A new footbridge has been installed adjacent to the airport terminal, with a covered walkway and lift access. The bridge will make access to and from the airport significantly easier for passengers with luggage, children or reduced mobility. Developed in partnership with South West Trains, the bridge opened in November at a cost of £2 million.  The bridge is a significant improvement for passengers who are increasingly using Southampton Airport as a fast link to access London (just 66 minutes away) and the south coast. Passengers from the Channel Islands and regional destinations such as Bergerac and Berne use Southampton Airport as their main air link to the UK.

The airport’s air conditioning units have been replaced due to old age. The new units are around 50% more efficient than the previous equipment and will be run at optimal levels to reduce energy consumption. The new equipment cost £400,000 and will keep the airport comfortably cool for passengers and staff. 

The airport’s roof glazing is being replaced to provide a lighter and brighter terminal. The new glazing brings environmental benefits, as it has special coating to reflect sunlight. Around 33% of the heat gained from the sun will be eliminated, meaning less energy will be needed for air cooling.

£55,000 has been invested in lighting controls within the short stay car park to provide greater control over the lighting being used. Sensors will allow individual lights to be switched off when not required.

The airport has replaced the 15 year old fixtures installed when the terminal first opened in 1994. The £830,000 new facilities have a fresh new look, more units and environmental benefits. Basins have built in infra-red activated taps reducing water usage and the hand driers are some of the most efficient systems available, reducing energy use.