By Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter
The airport has submitted an "Environmental Statement Addendum" to its runway extension application to Eastleigh Borough Council, so the public again get the opportunity to comment.
The airport said the current runway length "prevents many airlines from operating their fleet from the site", and has highlighted the impact the collapse Flybe has had on its business.
It said in documents it's "highly unlikely" it could return to the level of operations it had before the collapse of Flybe if the plans are refused.
It added: "Southampton Airport's updated business plan estimates that the airport breaks even with 1.2million passengers per annum. Whilst some of the services previously offered by Flybe have since been picked up by other airlines, the limitation of the current runway length prevents many airlines from operating their fleet from the site which, in turn, restricts the number of airlines that are able to take up and operate the flights that Flybe previously operated from the site."
But campaigners said they continue to believe that "the costs of the development to local people and the environment are outweighed by the benefits", and that the plans don't present evidence the airport will go bust without the extension.
"The airport has been consistently pessimistic about the possibility of attracting alternative airlines to 'backfill' Flybe's routes and was still claiming there was no possibility of more 'backfill' just two days before British Airways announced they were to offer a large number of new routes," said an Airport Expansion Opposition (AXO) spokesperson.
It was also reported this week that UK regional Eastern Airways is adding two former Flybe French routes to its roster from Southampton Airport this spring.
The final decision will be taken by the Eastleigh Local Area Committee at Eastleigh Borough Council, but the new meeting date still hasn't been confirmed.
Whether Southampton City Council, and other nearby authorities, will be making yet further responses to the now 're-revised' airport plans isn't yet known.
bitternepark.info also contributed to this article
Previously
Planning decisions on Marlhill trees loom
Eastern Airways takes on French routes from Southampton
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