Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has today unveiled a new Rail-Air product in partnership with South West Trains that provides a convenient and affordable fast- track train service for those passengers needing to travel to and from Southampton Airport (Parkway Station) and London Waterloo.

The option to purchase a Rail-Air train ticket for £30 return is offered via the South West Trains link after a customer’s online flight booking has been confirmed at www.flybe.com. There is a selection of other ticket options including one way, first class and children’s fares and can be booked in either direction. Those passengers buying a return rail ticket will also be offered the benefit of fast-track access through airport security on return to the airport, at no extra cost.

It is only 99 steps from Southampton Parkway train station to the airport and Rail-Air offers a choice of up to 50 trains a day with a journey time of just over an hour. The service is expected to prove particularly popular with inbound passengers wanting a convenient, affordable and seamless fast track option for onward travel to and from Southampton Airport and also especially convenient for those passengers travelling on one of Flybe’s 106 flights a week to and from the Channel Islands and up to 106 to and from Paris and regional France.

Flybe Director of Marketing, Simon Lilley, comments: “Our new partnership with South West Trains offers increased hassle-free connectivity between the heart of the capital at Waterloo and Southampton Airport. This is one of our busiest airports to and from which we fly to 32 destinations with a choice of up to 644 flights a week. Many of our passengers live in and around London and choose to use the convenience of flying from Southampton. It is also an important gateway to the South East for inbound passengers.”

Dave Wallington, Head of Commercial for South West Trains – Network Rail Alliance said: “Passengers using Southampton Airport already benefit from the convenience of a railway station located only a stone’s throw away with over 50 trains a day to London Waterloo. We have now made the journey even easier by introducing a new integrated ticket allowing Flybe customers to buy their air and rail tickets in one go and just hop on the train.”

Southampton Airport Managing Director, Dave Lees added: “Southampton Airport aims to be the ‘Breeze Through’ airport, making passenger travel easy, fast and friendly. This new service from Flybe and South West Trains is great news for our passengers and is another fantastic example of how easy it is to travel through our airport. The connection to London is fast and convenient and the railway station so close to the airport that we’re expecting to see many London-bound travellers using this service.”

Upon making a connecting Rail Air ticket train booking, passengers are issued with a unique reference. This is then used to collect their ticket from one of the regular ticket machines either at Southampton Airport or at Waterloo Station. Tickets are not restricted by the time of day and are valid for one month from the first date of travel.