Southampton Airport (IATA: SOU, ICAO: EGHI) is an international airport located in both Southampton and Eastleigh, Hampshire in the United Kingdom. The airport is located on the border between the two councils, but most of the airport is in the borough of Eastleigh. The airport is located 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km; 4.0 mi) north-north-east of central Southampton.
The airport handled nearly two million passengers during 2016, an 8.8% increase compared with 2015, making it the 18th busiest airport in the UK. Southampton Airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P690) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. The airport is owned and operated by AGS Airports which also owns and operates Aberdeen and Glasgow Airports. It was previously owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings (formerly known as BAA).
Southampton has one asphalt runway. Historically, there were three runways: one following the current one, one intersecting the current runway at 90 degrees at the north side of the airfield, and one which crossed through the middle of the current runway. It is clearly visible where the northern runway was: it is why there is a panhandle at the northeast of the airfield. All these runways were grass. The only remaining runway is 02/20 which is 1723 metres long and 37 metres wide. Only runway 20 has an Instrument Landing System. 02 has VOR/DME and NDB. The visual approach is allowed on both 02 and 20. The airport must close from 23:00 to 06:00, but can operate 10 flights monthly between those times. Helicopters are heavily restricted.