Unilink has introduced extra early morning and late evening buses between the city centre and Southampton Airport.
The local bus operator already serves the airport but has added additional buses to its timetable, following feedback.
“Our Unilink U1A service goes directly to the airport door, and we’ve added extra services to fit in with shift workers and those taking early morning and late evening flights,” said Richard Tyldsley, Unlink general manager.
“The first bus now leaves Southampton city centre towards the airport at 4.17am, with the last bus departing the airport at 12.40am.
“Southampton Airport is one of the region’s major transport and employment hubs - with many workers and flyers travelling here from the city centre.
“The U1A also stops at Town Quay, Westquay, Civic Centre, The Avenue, Portswood Broadway, Highfield Exchange, and Wessex Lane Halls - offering plenty of extra opportunity for commuters to reach the airport in good time and vice versa.
“These changes are the result of some excellent feedback from Southampton Airport, and we expect them to be well-received by those travelling with us.”
Gavin Williams, managing director at Southampton Airport, said: “We’re really pleased to see Unilink responding to the needs of our passengers and staff with these new early morning and late evening services.
"Reliable and convenient public transport is vital for an airport like ours, and the extended U1A timetable will make it even easier for people to reach us, whether they’re flying out, arriving home, or working a shift. It’s a great example of how collaboration can improve connectivity for the whole region.”
Unilink is the result of a partnership between the University of Southampton and bus operator Bluestar. Services are ideal for university students but are used by everyone wishing to travel in-and-around the city.
The U1A runs Monday to Friday during Southampton University term times, and buses are up to every eight minutes. Outside of term times, the service runs up to every 10 minutes.
On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, buses also run up to every 10 minutes.
The £3 fare cap is still in place, and can be used for single journeys on the U1A. Anyone wishing to travel on more than one journey in the same day will find excellent value in the Southampton Zone dayrider - at £4.30. This can also be used on Bluestar services, which is ideal for those who need to make a connecting journey to join the U1A.
Regular travellers to-and-from the airport can also make use of monthly passes, available via the Unilink app, with a 30 day Southampton zone pass costing £53.
Southampton Airport hosts flights to 15 domestic and international destinations - including Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Geneva, Majorca and Paris - with connecting flights in Amsterdam linking travellers with locations across the world.
For more information about Unilink, please visit unilinkbus.co.uk and for information about Southampton Airport, please visit southamptonairport.com