Helping you take your business global New airport boss outlines top priorities

Building and strengthening links with Hampshire’s business community is a key priority for the new boss of Southampton Airport.

Andy Cliffe spoke to Business Voice shortly after taking the reins as Chief Executive of owner and operator AGS Airports, which also runs Aberdeen and Glasgow airports. He has stepped into his new role as runway extension work gets going at Southampton, plans for new schedules are rekindled and progress continues with the development of Solent Freeport.

Signalling a mood of optimism, Mr Cliffe said: “There is still a way to go in terms of getting back to where Southampton was in 2019, but I’m keen to see the airport play its full part in growing what is a fantastic region in which to work, live and visit. We will look to improve connectivity to support inward investment and tourism to the wider region.”

Underpinning that vision is Mr Cliffe’s confidence that the airport and business community are ‘inextricably linked’. It’s a view based on 20 years of experience in the aviation industry with Manchester Airports Group

(MAG) where he was managing director of both Bournemouth and East Midlands airports.

“It is important that the region speaks loudly, with confidence and one voice,” said Mr Cliffe. “That’s how we develop a compelling proposition for airlines to choose to serve Southampton, Eastleigh and Hampshire. There is no escaping the fact that we are operating in a fiercely competitive market. When deciding where best to deploy their aircraft, airlines will look at the cohesion of a region and the scale of its ambition as well as its commitment to using the service.”

Asked what role the airport can play in unlocking Hampshire’s potential, a key aspiration for Hampshire Chamber, he said: “Airports are more than vital pieces of infrastructure. The connectivity they provide is a key driver for any city or region in terms of how it does business, attracts inward investment and exports goods and services. The success of both Southampton Airport and the city’s business community are inextricably linked and I’m keen to harness this relationship. At AGS Airports, we want to nurture existing links with the business community while continuing to forge new relationships.”

As with the wider business community, Mr Cliffe believes the airport has a complementary relationship with Solent Freeport. “Southampton Airport has been a key Solent Freeport partner and contributed a significant area of land for commercial development use to help ensure the bid was successful,” he explained. “It includes 500,000 sq. ft of new business space at Navigator Quarter, adjacent to the runway, and part of a 75-acre site. The Navigator Quarter site is ideally placed to benefit from excellent air, road, sea and rail connectivity. Phase 1 will deliver over £120m GVA to the UK economy.”

Such connectivity has to be complemented by sustainability, with clean growth a ’core value’ for Southampton Airport, said Mr Cliffe. “It’s about how we balance the social and economic benefits our connectivity undoubtedly delivers with our climate change responsibilities. Aviation growth and decarbonisation are not incompatible goals, and a central pillar of our sustainability strategy is a commitment to build on our carbon neutrality status by achieving net zero by the mid-2030s.”

On progress with the runway extension, he said the airport team have been ‘working tirelessly’, adding: “Early enabling works have already taken place with the main construction kicking off in the next couple of months. Our team and contractor are committed to ensuring that the construction process results in the least possible disruption.”

AGS was established in 2014 and is the second largest airport group in the UK.