AS an Air Berlin Boeing 737 touched down at Southampton Airport in the wet at 7.20am, history was made.

It was the first scheduled arrival of a German passenger plane since the airport opened in 1910, the year when Britain mourned the deaths of King Edward VII and nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

Yesterday's 80-minute maiden flight heralded the new route between Paderborn and Southampton. The morning service operates three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with all-in prices starting from £19 one-way.

Air Berlin, Germany's second-largest airline after Lufthansa, is currently the third-biggest low-cost carrier in Europe after Ryanair and easyJet.

Airline boss Joachim Hunold said: "The region of Southampton is home for many British forces family members, who are also based in Paderborn and need a connection between their homes."

Airport boss David Cum-ming said: "We are delighted to be able to offer passengers the opportunity to travel direct to Germany for both business and leisure."

One Paderborn-bound passenger, a soldier from the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, said: "I've come from Somerset, and normally go via Stansted, so this increases options."

The flight contained civic dignitaries, who were greeted by the mayors of South-ampton and Eastleigh.

Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Flybe says its new £17-plus one-way flights from Southampton to Manchester and Newcastle, which started on Sunday, look set to "outstrip availability".

Flybe has also launched an express hand-baggage check-in facility at the airport.

Too close for our comfort: An increase in business at Southampton's airport is causing deep concern to people living beneath the flight paths - see today's Spotlight feature under the More news section of 'This is Southampton'.