A COUNCIL leader has welcomed the sale of Southampton Airport that he believes will bring more drive to make it successful.

Keith House, pictured, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, told councillors at the latest full council meeting at the Ageas Bowl that he had been given assurances by the new owners that they intended to grow the airport.

As reported, Southampton Airport is to be sold in a £1billion deal that could unlock fresh investment and create new jobs.

Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH) has agreed to sell the airport to a consortium led by infrastructure giant Ferrovial and Australia-based Macquarie.

The two firms are leading a £1.048 billion purchase of Southampton, Aberdeen and Glasgow airports expected to be finalised by January.

Cllr House also said Sir Peter Mason, who is the chairman of the board of this new partnership, had stressed to him their intention to use local management and that they were keen to work with the council.

Speaking after the meeting he added that the new owners only had three airports to focus on which should mean that they should get closer scrutiny than before.

“They’ll want to make them [the airports] all work and have a really strong economy to make sure that happens,” he said.