Boss of Southampton Airport to step down

The Managing Director of Southampton Airport is to step down from his role during what he says is a "difficult time for everyone".

Neil Garwood will leave the organisation on June 19 after nine years.

He said: "Southampton Airport is a very special place for all those who work here, and now is a difficult time for everyone associated with our airport."

Over the past year, Neil has led the airport's plans to expand the current runway by 164 metres.

He added that "huge progress" has been made with the planning application to enable Southampton to "offer more routes and choice for passengers, more jobs for local people and, vitally, provide a significant boost to the local and regional economy".

His departure follows the collapse of Flybe, which was Southampton Airport's biggest airline.

Steve Szalay, who is currently managing director at Aberdeen Airport, will lead the newly restructured Southampton team as operations director. He will join the team on June 1 2020.

Derek Provan, Chief Executive of AGS Airports, which operates Southampton and its sister airports Glasgow and Aberdeen, said: "Neil is a valued member of the AGS executive team and has led on Southampton’s future development by delivering the airport’s expansion plans to the point we hope to receive approval for our planning application in the coming months.

"These are difficult times for AGS as for all airports, and I am very sorry to be losing Neil, however, I know Steve is relishing the opportunity of leading the team at Southampton as we rebuild the business."