Loganair announces a Southampton base – soon bookable with Avios

Scottish regional airline Loganair has announced that Southampton will be its 10th UK base.

This is all the more interesting as Loganair will become the 7th airline to adopt Avios as we covered in January.

Southampton Airport has been trying to attract more airlines for some time. In 2023 it opened a 164 metre runway extension to allow larger short haul aircraft, such as the A320, to make use of the runway.

Loganair will not need the extra 164m as it is using ATR 72-600 propeller planes with a capacity of 72 passengers each. Propeller planes like the ATR 72-600 tend to be more fuel efficient but slower than conventional jet aircraft.

The airline says that by opening the base it will add over 140,000 seats annually, equivalent to 380 per day.

Two new routes will be launched and a third route will have its capacity beefed up. Both Southampton to Manchester and Manchester to Exeter will launch on 26th October 2025 whilst the “popular” Southampton to Edinburgh service will be upgraded from 49 to 72 seats.

Loganair says that:

“The new Southampton to Manchester route is timed to meet key connections to Inverness, Aberdeen and Isle of Man. This new route enhances onward connectivity at Manchester via existing partnerships with Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Aer Lingus. Offering customers the benefits of single ticket and through checked luggage to global destinations.”

Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer at Loganair, said:

“We are delighted to be announcing a new base in Southampton, which is a logical and important strategic step for the UK’s largest regional airline. Loganair is very familiar with operations to and from the South Coast, and we feel confident the local market will respond well to our more permanent presence and new routes through the basing of two aircraft later this year.”

Southampton Airport is more convenient than you think, even if you don’t live on the South Coast. It has its own railway station just 100 metres from the terminal and can be reached on direct trains from London Waterloo in just over an hour.

The airport runs its own Spitfire Lounge which I reviewed last year. My verdict?

“Let’s be honest: you don’t expect a small airport like this to have a lounge as good as The Spitfire Lounge. In fact, I’ve been to many larger airports with significantly worse (or smaller) facilities.”

There is no date yet for the launch of Avios with Loganair.

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How to maximise your miles when paying for flights (March 2025)

Some UK credit cards offer special bonuses when used for buying flights. If you spend a lot on airline tickets, using one of these cards could sharply increase the credit card points you earn.

Booking flights on any airline?

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold earns double points (2 Membership Rewards points per £1) when used to buy flights directly from an airline website.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points. These would convert to 20,000 Avios or various other airline or hotel programmes. The standard earning rate is 1 point per £1.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

Buying flights on British Airways?

The British Airways Premium Plus American Express card earns double Avios (3 Avios per £1) when used at ba.com.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Avios. The standard earning rate is 1.5 Avios per £1.

You do not earn bonus Avios if you pay for BA flights on the free British Airways American Express card or either of the Barclaycard Avios Mastercards.

You can apply here.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

Buying flights on Virgin Atlantic?

Both the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard and the annual fee Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard earn double Virgin Points when used at fly.virgin.com.

This means 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on the free card and 3 Virgin Points per £1 on the paid card.

There is a sign-up bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points on the free card and 18,000 Virgin Points on the paid card.

You can apply for either of the cards here.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review