Airport bosses want to extend the runway by 164 metres. Southampton City Council objected to the plans due to concerns over noise and climate change.

The new operations director of Southampton Airport is urging local residents and businesses to back plans to extend the runway. Steve Szalay has warned that 2,000 jobs could be put at risk if the plans don't go ahead.

The new operations director has warned that if proposals are not given the go ahead, thousands of jobs could be lost which are "vital to the recovery of the local economy".