The 1920s and 30s marked a new direction for Southampton`s port in many ways. Ever-increasing trade meant that more dock space was needed. New owners Southern Railway solved this problem by looking west, gaining permission for 7500 ft (2.2 km) of deep water quays and the world`s largest graving dock to be built upstream on the River Test. A trading estate would be located nearby. Faster passenger and mail transport also came from a new direction - the skies. Southampton became the base of UK flying boat operations, with Empire class boats flying across the world.

1922	Supermarine wins the Shneider Trophy for Britain with flying boat Sea Lion II, designed by R.J. Mitchell
1923	Southern Railway assumes ownership of Southampton port British Marine Air Navigation Company is formed as a venture between Supermarine and Southern Railway A passenger flight from the Needles to Cherbourg takes 51 minutes to cross the English Channel
1924	Imperial Airways is formed - Britain`s first national airline
1926	The General Strike affects work at all ports, including Southampton
1927	Construction work starts on the Western Docks A signal station is established at Calshot, at the mouth of Southampton Water
1928	Supermarine is absorbed into the Vickers Group and renamed Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd
1931	A major project to widen and deepen Southampton Water begins Britain wins the Schneider Trophy for the third time in a row, winning the prize outright. The winning plane is Supermarine S6B designed by R.J. Mitchell
1932	The new international load line standard is agreed
1933	King George V (No 7) graving dock is opened. It can take ships 1200 ft (360 m) long, making it the world`s largest graving dock at the time
1934	Southampton`s new Western Docks are opened The Empire Air Mail Scheme is devised. Mail will be carried throughout the British Empire without extra charge. Imperial Airways switches from land planes to flying boats on its Empire routes
1936	Queen Mary makes her maiden voyage from Southampton Flying boat Conopus makes a test flight from Southampton to Alexandria (Egpyt) via Rome
1937	Queen Elizabeth is launched on Clydebank Inauguration of the Empire Air Mail scheme using Short Empire class flying boats An Imperial Airways flying boat makes the company`s first first across the Atlantic to Botwood, Newfoundland
1938	HMS Rodney is the first ship to be equipped with radar A special pontoon is opened at Southampton`s berth 107 for use by flying boats Experiments are carried out laying a flare path in the Solent to allow night flying
1939	Southampton Harbour Board is given powers to regulate flying boats. The Marine Air Base is established at the port. Start of World War 2

Before 1830 | 1830 - 1850 | 1850 - 1880 | 1880 - 1900 | 1900 - 1920 | 1920 - 1939 | 1939 - 1945 | 1945 - 1960 | After 1960

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