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{{Short description|Airport in Bristol, England}}{{About|the airport in the United Kingdom}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

factoids
name	Bristol Airport| nativename = | image = Bristol Airport logo vector.svg| image-width = 175| image2 = Bristol airport overview.jpg| image2-width = 250| IATA = BRS| ICAO = EGGD| type = Public| owner = Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan| hub = | focus_city =

Jet2.com}}

Ryanair

TUI Airways

| city-served = Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Wiltshire| location = Lulsgate Bottom, North Somerset| elevation-f = 622!| !! Number ofpassengersNumber of passengers including domestic, international and transit. !! style="width:125px"| Number ofmovementsNumber of movements represents total takeoffs and landings during that year. !1997!1998!1999!2000!2001!2002!2003!2004!2005!2006!2007!2008!2009!2010!2011!2012!2013!2014!2015!2016!2017!2018!2019!2020!2021!2022 class="sortbottom"

51

58

002

09

type:airport_region:GB-NSM|display=inline,title}}| pushpin_map = Somerset| pushpin_label = EGGD| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Somerset| website = {{Official URL}}| metric-rwy = Yes| r1-number = 09/27| r1-length-m = 2,011

Asphalt concrete>Asphalt| stat-year = 2023| stat1-header = Passengers| stat1-data = 9,800,000| stat2-header = Passenger change 22-23| stat2-data = {{increase}}281%| stat3-header = Aircraft Movements| stat3-data = 56,391| stat4-header = Movements change 21-22| stat4-data = {{decrease}}169%

Aeronautical Information Publication>AIP at National Air Traffic Services

HTTP://WWW.NATS-UK.EAD-IT.COM/PUBLIC/INDEX.PHP%3FOPTION%3DCOM_CONTENT%26TASK%3DBLOGCATEGORY%26ID%3D36%26ITEMID%3D85.HTML

WORK=EAD-IT.COM

ARCHIVE-DATE=11 NOVEMBER 2020

URL-STATUS=DEAD, Statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)

HTTPS://WWW.CAA.CO.UK/DATA-AND-ANALYSIS/UK-AVIATION-MARKET/AIRPORTS/UK-AIRPORT-DATA/UK-AIRPORT-DATA-2022/ANNUAL-2022/

PUBLISHER=CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (UNITED KINGDOM)

>DATE=MARCH 2023, 23 March 2023, }}Bristol Airport {{Airport codes|BRS|EGGD}}, at Lulsgate Bottom, on the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills, in North Somerset, is an international airport serving the city of Bristol, England, and the surrounding area. It is {{convert|7|NM|lk=in}} southwest of Bristol city centre. Built on the site of a former RAF airfield, it opened in 1957 as Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport,WEB,weblink History of Bristol Airport, Bristol Airport, 26 October 2015, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150928010504weblink">weblink 28 September 2015, replacing Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport as Bristol's municipal airport. From 1997 to 2010, it was known as Bristol International Airport. In 1997, a majority shareholding in the airport was sold to FirstGroup, and then in 2001 the airport was sold to a joint venture of Macquarie Bank and others. In September 2014, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan bought out Macquarie to become the sole owner.In 2019, it was ranked the eighth busiest airport (overtaking Glasgow Airport from the previous year) in the United Kingdom, handling over 8.9 million passengers, a 3% increase compared with 2018.WEB,weblink CAA Airport Data 2019, 21 June 2020, caa.co.uk, UK Civil Aviation Authority, 21 June 2020, A passenger survey carried out in 2015 found that 32.5% of journeys using the airport started or ended in the city of Bristol, 9.6% in Gloucestershire, 24.5% in Somerset and 16.9% in Devon.WEB,weblink CAA Passenger Survey Report 2015, Civil Aviation Authority, 21 August 2018, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150922101545weblink">weblink 22 September 2015, Airlines with operating bases at the airport include EasyJet and Ryanair. The airport has a Civil Aviation Authority Public Use Aerodrome Licence (number P432) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers and for flying instruction. History File:cambrian viscount g-amon in 1963 arp.jpg|thumb|Cambrian Airways Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountFile:carvair and ambassador at bristol airport 1965 arp.jpg|thumb|Aviation Traders Carvair and the tail of an Airspeed AmbassadorAirspeed Ambassador First airport In 1927, a group of local businessmen raised £6,000 through public subscription to start the Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club,WEB,weblink The History of Bristol Airport, The Airport Guides, 10 December 2007, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121016194204weblink">weblink 16 October 2012, dmy-all, a flying club initially based at Filton Aerodrome. In 1929, Bristol Corporation took up the club's proposal to develop farmland located at Whitchurch, to the south of Bristol, into a municipal airport.BOOK, Wakefield, Kenneth, "Somewhere in the West Country": The History of Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport, 1930–1957, 1997, Crécy, Wilmslow, 0-947554-65-3, 1–2, On its opening by Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1930, Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport was the third civil airport in the United Kingdom. Passenger numbers grew to 4,000 by 1939.During World War II, Whitchurch was the main civil airport remaining operational. The newly formed British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was transferred to Whitchurch from Croydon Airport and Heston Airport.{{harvp|Wakefield|1997|pages=82–83}} BOAC operated routes around the British Empire and to neutral nations. The Bristol–Lisbon route (Portugal was a neutral nation and had both British and German planes flying there) was operated by the Dutch airline KLM, under charter to BOAC.{{harvp|Wakefield|1997|pages=91–93}} Winston Churchill even flew from Bristol.WEB,weblink Bristol Airport History: through the years, Airport Guides, RAF Lulsgate Bottom In September 1940, No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School RAF at RAF Weston-super-Mare established a Relief Landing Ground on {{convert|14|acre|ha}} at Broadfield Down by the hamlet of Lulsgate Bottom, southwest of the city and north of Redhill village. Being high, at {{convert|600|ft|abbr=on}}, the site had a poor weather record during warm front conditions, when it was often covered in low cloud. However, when this occurred the alternative airfields at Filton and Cardiff were usually clear and operational; and as Lulsgate was clear when the low-lying airfields were obscured by radiation fog in calm weather, the landing ground provided a useful alternative. Few facilities were constructed although pillboxes, defensive anti-aircraft guns and later two Blister hangars were added.BOOK, Somerset airfields in the Second World War, Berryman, David, 2006, Countryside Books, Newbury, 1-85306-864-0, 87–104, In late 1940, a Starfish site was set upWEB, Civil Bombing Decoy C1I, PastScape, English Heritage,weblink 12 August 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150518074354weblink">weblink 18 May 2015, dmy-all, south of the village of Downside and just west of the airfield.BOOK, The Story of RAF Lulsgate Bottom, James, Ian, 1989, Redcliffe Press, Bristol, 0-948265-48-5, 13–14, Its decoy fires attracted a large quantity of Luftwaffe high explosives and incendiaries on the nights of 16 March, 3 April and 4 April 1941 during the Bristol Blitz.BOOK, Bristol at War, Penny, John, 2002, Breedon Books, Derby, 1-85983-294-6, 122–136, In 1941, RAF Fighter Command planned to use the airfield for an experimental unit, and after requisitioning land from several adjacent farms, contracted George Wimpey and Company to begin work on 11 June 1941. However, its intended use soon changed into being a satellite airfield for the fighter squadrons based at RAF Colerne. Originally, the new airfield's name was to be RAF Broadfield Down.Penny (2002), p. 154. The airfield used a standard-issue three-runway layout resembling an A shape. The main, east–west runway was {{convert|3891|ft|abbr=on}} long, with a designated alignment of 28/10, and the others were {{convert|3281|ft|abbr=on}} aligned 21/03 and {{convert|3294|ft|abbr=on}} aligned 34/16. The first aircraft to land was a Luftwaffe Ju 88 at 06.20 on 24 July 1941. Returning from a raid, its crew had been deceived by the RAF electronic countermeasures radio beacon at Lympsham, which was re-radiating the signal from a Luftwaffe homing beacon at Brest, France.By 1942, there was no longer a need for an additional fighter airfield. With its name changed to RAF Lulsgate Bottom, the airfield was declared operational on 15 January 1942. The Miles Masters, Airspeed Oxfords and Hawker Hurricanes of No. 286 (AA Cooperation) Squadron became resident, with the role of providing realistic exercises for ground anti-aircraft defences. However, as the site lacked some basic facilities, No. 286 moved to RAF Zeals in May.WEB,weblink Lulsgate â€” Bristol Airport, Chew76, 18 July 2008, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090630040828weblink">weblink 30 June 2009, From 1 June 1942, the airfield was under No. 23 Group of RAF Flying Training Command, and initially became a satellite airfield for No. 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (3 (P)AFU), based at RAF South Cerney, flying Oxfords.James (1989), pp. 22–23. In March 1943, No. 1540 Beam Approach Training Flight RAF (1540 BATF) was formed at Lulsgate, again flying Oxfords.James (1989), p. 28. On 27 September 1943, 3 (P)AFU left Lulsgate for RAF Southrop, and was replaced on 1 October 1943 by No. 3 Flying Instructors School (3 FIS), which was previously headquartered at RAF Hullavington.James (1989), pp. 30–31. 3 FIS flew mostly Oxfords and some Masters.James (1989), p. 34.In 1944, BOAC started to use the airfield for Douglas Dakota and Consolidated Liberator crew training, and BOAC flights made use of it occasionally as an alternate airfield for Whitchurch,Wakefield (1997), p. 112. and for topping-up fuel on the Bristol–Lisbon route.On 6 February 1945, 1540 BATF left for RAF Weston Zoyland. On 18 July 1945, 3 FIS was absorbed into 7 FIS.James (1989), p. 39. With the war over, the RAF ceased training at Lulsgate on 15 April 1946, and the next month 7 FIS left the airfield and joined the Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington. The RAF finally abandoned Lulsgate on 25 October 1946.James (1989), pp. 44–45. Lulsgate Bottom Airfield From 1948, the site was the home of the Bristol Gliding Club. In 1949 and 1950, the Bristol Motor Cycle and Light Car Club hosted motor races on a {{convert|2|mi|abbr=on}} circuit known as Lulsgate Aerodrome, but due to planning and noise issues moved in 1950 to a site that became known as Castle Combe Circuit. Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport Whitchurch airport continued to be used after World War II, but the introduction of heavier post-war airliners made a runway extension highly desirable. However, this was difficult at Whitchurch, because of the nearby housing estates.Wakefield (1997), p. 147. In June 1955, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation agreed to sell the Lulsgate airfield to Bristol Corporation, for the development of a new airport there.NEWS, New Municipal Airport For Bristol, The Times, London, 23 June 1955, 5, Bristol Gliding Club moved out to Nympsfield in Gloucestershire.In addition to the purchase price of £55,000, the city spent a further £200,000 by 1958 on building the terminal and other development.NEWS, Bristol To Seek B.E.A. Service, The Times, London, 1 October 1958, 3, In mid-April 1957, all air traffic was transferred from Whitchurch to the new airport.NEWS, News in Brief, The Times, London, 16 April 1957, 6, With the name of Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport, it was officially opened on 1 May 1957 by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.NEWS, Court Circular, The Times, London, 2 May 1957, 12, In the airport's first year it was used by 33,000 people. Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club also moved to Lulsgate.In 1962, a new control tower was built,NEWS, Picture Gallery, The Times, London, 19 September 1962, 6, and in 1969 the runway was lengthened and extensions were made to the terminal.NEWS, Take-off towards new success, Elliott, Harvey, The Times, London, 8 July 1992, 27, In 1968 a new {{convert|5000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} cargo transit shed was constructed. In 1974, the airline Court Line collapsed, causing a fall in passenger numbers.By 1980, although 17 charter airlines were operating from the airport, it was making a loss.NEWS, Leslie Wilson, The Times, London, 4 December 1995, 21, Les Wilson took over as managing director in that year, a position which he held until his death in a car crash in November 1995; much of the airport's subsequent strong recovery over that period has been attributed to him.NEWS,weblink Obituary: Les Wilson, The Independent, London, Independent News and Media, 30 November 1995, Belsey, James, 7 April 2010, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121107060235weblink">weblink 7 November 2012, The airport moved back into profit in financial year 1981/82,NEWS, Hopes fly high as the big boys pull out, Reed, Arthur, Seton, Craig, The Times, London, 28 September 1983, and by 1983/84 the profit was £0.5{{nbsp}}million.NEWS, Bristol, The Times, London, 11 July 1984, 16, In 1984, an international departure lounge was added, with duty-free shops and a 24-hour air-side bar.The Airports Act 1986 required every municipal airport with a turnover greater than £1 million to be turned into a public limited company.NEWS, 13 airports opt for first step to privatization, Elliott, Harvey, The Times, London, 15 December 1986, 2, On 1 April 1987,NEWS, 12 local authority airports begin operating as limited companies, The Financial Times, London, 1 April 1987, 6, Bristol City Council transferred the operation and net assets of the airport to Bristol Airport plc. The council retained full ownership of the company. However, under the terms of the Act, as long as the local authority retained a majority shareholding there were restrictions on the ability of the company to raise finance for capital projects.In 1988, the airport opened a new concourse area. In 1994, a planning application for a new terminal was approved. With other projects also planned, the council decided to sell a majority shareholding in the airport, so that the restrictions imposed by the Airports Act on raising the necessary finance could be removed.NEWS, Bus company in airport deal, BBC News,weblink 11 November 1997, 15 August 2013, Bristol International Airport (File:bristol.airport.tower.arp.jpg|thumb|upright|The control tower in 2003)(File:Bristol International Airport, terminal building departure area.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|Terminal building check-in area in 2008)In mid-1997, the airport's name was changed to Bristol International Airport.NEWS, Survey - Bristol 97: Sell off, then take off, Adburgham, Roland, The Financial Times, London, 6 June 1997, In November 1997, the successful bidder for the purchase of a 51% stake in the airport company was revealed to be FirstBus. The remaining 49% was retained by the council. Work on the new terminal building had already started; it opened in March 2000, at a cost of £27 million.NEWS, Airport's terminal is in use, Bristol Evening Post, Bristol, 7 March 2000, 3, In 2000, passenger numbers exceeded two million for the first time. A new control tower was built and the A38 road was diverted to cater for the installation of a Category 3 instrument landing system; these projects were completed in 2001.In January 2001, the airport was purchased for £198& million, by a joint venture of Macquarie Bank and Cintra, part of the Ferrovial group.NEWS,weblink Over and out. FirstGroup sells Bristol airport, Gow, David, The Guardian, 21 December 2000, 6 May 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140508235407weblink">weblink 8 May 2014, Ferrovial sold its 50% share to Macquarie in 2006.NEWS,weblink Ferrovial Sells Bristol Airport Stake to Macquarie, Reuters, 1 December 2006, 6 May 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121004084643weblink">weblink 4 October 2012, The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan made two substantial share purchases, in 2002 and 2009.NEWS, Ontario Teachers becomes sole owner of Bristol Airport, 17 September 2014,weblink Reuters, 9 December 2017,weblink 10 December 2017, live, In May 2001, the low-cost carrier Go Fly made Bristol Airport its second base after Stansted.NEWS, Go-fly 10 years on: What happened to the routes and people behind Europe's then third biggest LCC?, anna.aero,weblink 2 May 2012, 28 August 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140830073957weblink">weblink 30 August 2014, Passenger numbers passed through three million in 2002, largely due to Go's arrival. EasyJet purchased Go in 2002, took over the base in 2003 and continued its rapid growth in destinations.NEWS, easyJet's dominance at Bristol under threat from Ryanair, anna.aero,weblink 23 November 2007, 28 August 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304035752weblink">weblink 4 March 2016, In May 2005, Continental Airlines introduced a direct flight from Bristol to Newark with Boeing 757 aircraft, though this ceased in November 2010.NEWS,weblink Continental Airlines to scrap flights to New York from Bristol, Bristol Evening Post, 6 April 2010, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100409061641weblink">weblink 9 April 2010, A new asphalt runway surface was laid between November 2006 and March 2007,WEB,weblink Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Report No: 1/2009, 9 January 2009, 9 January 2009, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090130094935weblink">weblink 30 January 2009, dmy-all, at a cost of £17 million.NEWS, Bristol airport reopens after runway repairs, The Guardian,weblink 8 January 2007, 9 May 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130831004206weblink">weblink 31 August 2013, Within this period, on 29 December and 3 January, there were four incidents of reduced braking action in wet conditions on the temporary surface, including two in which aircraft left the runway.NEWS, Report finds runway 'was unsafe', BBC News,weblink 9 January 2009, 9 January 2009, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090116120957weblink">weblink 16 January 2009, dmy-all, From 5 January, ten airlines, led by EasyJet, cancelled or diverted their Bristol flights. The airport closed the runway on 7 January to cut grooves into the surface to improve water runoff, and flights resumed the next day.Ryanair established a base at the airport in 2007.NEWS, Ryanair announces new city routes, BBC News,weblink 24 May 2007, 28 August 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070820173645weblink">weblink 20 August 2007, In 2008, passenger numbers reached six million. Bristol Airport (File:Terminal Building, Bristol Airport - geograph.org.uk - 3069438.jpg|thumb|Terminal frontage in 2012)In March 2010, the airport was rebranded as Bristol Airport.NEWS,weblink Bristol Evening Post, 12 March 2010, 12 March 2010, Rebranded Bristol Airport drops the International, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100315153624weblink">weblink 15 March 2010, dmy-all, The airport gained a new logo, said by the airport's owners to represent 'people', 'place' and 'region'; and a new slogan, "Amazing journeys start here".WEB,weblink New vision unveiled ten years on from terminal opening, Bristol Airport, 12 March 2010, 27 August 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131104001258weblink">weblink 4 November 2013, Bristol Airport does not operate any jetways, so aircraft have to park on the apron and passengers either walk out to their flights or are carried by bus. May 2010 saw the opening of a {{convert|450|m|abbr=on}}WEB,weblink New walkway will enhance passenger experience, Bristol Airport, 28 May 2010, 27 August 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140714204217weblink">weblink 14 July 2014, walkway to the west of the terminal building,NEWS,weblink Airport's £6.5m project to ease passenger congestion, Bristol Post, 4 October 2013, 10 October 2013, dead,weblink" title="archive.today/20131011183508weblink">weblink 11 October 2013, connecting it to eight new pre-boarding zones, at a cost of £8 million, to reduce the need for buses.In 2012, BMI Regional established a base at the airport.NEWS,weblink Frankfurt flights launched from Bristol Airport, Buckland, Robert, Bath Business News, 2 April 2013, 2 November 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131104034411weblink">weblink 4 November 2013, In 2013, the airline added routes to German and Italian hub airports, aimed at business travellers.NEWS,weblink One to one: CEO, BMI Regional, Rivers, Martin, AFM Airline Fleet Management, Aviation Media, 3 September 2013, 2 November 2013, dead,weblink 25 February 2021, In September 2014, Toronto-based Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan agreed to buy Macquarie's remaining 50% stake in the airport, thereby gaining 100% ownership.NEWS,weblink Australian owners sell 50 per cent stake in Bristol Airport for £250 million, Bristol Post, 17 September 2014, 17 September 2014, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140919124002weblink">weblink 19 September 2014, In July 2020, over 76 employee redundancies,NEWS,weblink Bristol Airport: Almost 100 jobs set to be lost, BBC News, 10 July 2020, 14 July 2020, live,weblink 19 July 2021, up to a quarter of the work force, were announced by Bristol Airport. The job losses were announced despite the government's Job Retention Scheme.NEWS,weblink The UK's coronavirus furlough scheme, explained by experts, Wired, 3 March 2020, 3 March 2020, dead,weblink 3 April 2020, On 11 November 2020, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays announced that they would open their tenth UK base at Bristol Airport on 1 April 2021, operating to 33 destinations; however, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus travel restrictions, the base opening and flights were delayed until 1 July 2021.In May 2023, it was announced that TUI would discontinue their long-haul routes to Melbourne, Florida, and Cancún, Mexico. The two routes will cease to operate at the end of Summer 2023, this left the airport with no transatlantic routes.WEB, TUI remove long haul flights from Bristol Airport for Summer 2024-2025,weblink 2023-05-31, www.freshaviation.co.uk, 31 May 2023, en, Expansion {{Subsections|date=March 2024}}In response to the UK governments's 2003 white paper The Future of Air Transport, the airport published a Master Plan for expansion over the period 2006–2030.WEB, Bristol International Airport Master Plan 2006 to 2030, Bristol Airport,weblink 26 October 2015, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150905131218weblink">weblink 5 September 2015, In October 2007, the airport announced that it would delay the planning application until the middle of 2008 to give it time to complete research on the airport's effect on the environment.NEWS,weblink Airport expansion plans grounded, BBC News, 20 October 2007, 23 October 2007, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121112143907weblink">weblink 12 November 2012, dmy-all, The World Development Movement claimed that flights from the airport generated the same amount of carbon dioxide as the nation of Malawi.NEWS,weblink Airport CO2 rivals African nation, BBC News, 11 October 2007, 23 October 2007, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071013083236weblink">weblink 13 October 2007, dmy-all, A campaign against the plan was led by Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, supported by Bristol Friends of the Earth and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.NEWS, Airport expansion plans take-off, BBC News,weblink 26 October 2005, 5 April 2014, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070913155854weblink">weblink 13 September 2007, The application was eventually submitted in 2009.NEWS, Airport's plans go before council, BBC News,weblink 16 June 2009, 5 April 2014, The £150M plan,NEWS, Bristol Airport expansion over 'final hurdle', BBC News,weblink 17 September 2010, 5 April 2014, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150925223344weblink">weblink 25 September 2015, designed to facilitate growth in annual passenger numbers to 10 million, was approved by North Somerset Council in 2010 and by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government later the same year. In October 2011, Stop Bristol Airport Expansion lost its legal challenge to the plan.NEWS,weblink Bristol Airport expansion approval 'was legal', BBC News, 26 October 2011, 4 May 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140817134914weblink">weblink 17 August 2014, The expansion was to occur in stages, spread over 30 construction projects.NEWS,weblink Bristol Airport expansion: Pool of contractors appointed, BBC News, 10 January 2013, 4 May 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140817125526weblink">weblink 17 August 2014, Plans included a doubling of passenger terminal floorspace, new piers and aircraft parking stands, extensions to the apron, multi-storey car parking and a public transport interchange.WEB, Our future, Bristol Airport,weblink 26 October 2015, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151021043600weblink">weblink 21 October 2015, The first project was completed in June 2012, with the opening of three new aircraft stands.NEWS,weblink First phase of airport expansion opens, Wright, Tom, The Weston & Somerset Mercury, 27 June 2012, 4 May 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140407090255weblink">weblink 7 April 2014, In July 2014, a {{convert|3880|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, £6.5M walkway connected to the centre of the terminal was opened, providing four more pre-boarding zones and allowing the use of jetways, including for wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.NEWS,weblink Bristol Airport announces best ever figures for June, Bristol Post, 21 July 2014, 22 July 2014, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140726212842weblink">weblink 26 July 2014, In July 2015, the airport opened an £8.6M eastward extension of the terminal, having a larger departure lounge and an outdoor terrace. Construction of another terminal extension started immediately, to the west and costing £24M.NEWS,weblink New Bristol Airport terminal opens for business, Bristol Post, 3 July 2015, 8 July 2015, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150707235424weblink">weblink 7 July 2015, The first phases of the {{convert|9000|m2|sqft|adj=on}} western extension, which opened in summer 2016, provided a new security search area for departures, with 12 security lanes including a fast track zone. New arrivals facilities within the extension, including baggage reclaim and customs, were scheduled to open later in 2016.NEWS,weblink Could the problems of long queues at Bristol Airport finally be solved?, Ribbeck, M., Bristol Post, 29 June 2016, 1 November 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160905104225weblink">weblink 5 September 2016, In October 2016, the airport announced that a further project, an enlargement of the immigration hall, will complete in 2017. These were completed and opened to the public in April 2017, enabling an increase in the number of passport control points from 10 to 17, of which 10 are ePassport gates.WEB, Passport Control,weblink Bristol Airport, 9 December 2017, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160927061406weblink">weblink 27 September 2016, A planning application for an on-site 251-room hotel was approved separately in 2010.NEWS,weblink BBC News, 14 October 2010, Bristol Airport hotel plan approved by councillors, 1 November 2010, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101017063151weblink">weblink 17 October 2010, dmy-all, In February 2014, a planning application was submitted for a revision to the previously approved design, with a 201-room hotel to be built initially, followed later by a 50-room addition. The airport stated that among the UK's busiest 16 airports, only Bristol lacked an on-site hotel.NEWS,weblink Plans for new hotel made public, Wright, Tom, The Weston & Somerset Mercury, 28 February 2014, 22 March 2014, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140407090428weblink">weblink 7 April 2014, In February 2015, the airport announced that the 201-room hotel would be completed in 2016, and will be operated as a Hampton by Hilton. It opened for bookings in January 2017. It was funded, built and is owned, by a Chinese company,NEWS,weblink First hotel to be built at Bristol Airport will be Hampton by Hilton, Bristol Post, 2 February 2015, 5 February 2015, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150205212750weblink">weblink 5 February 2015, CIMC Modular Building Systems,NEWS,weblink Chinese firm to build £15m Bristol sea container hotel, Morby, Aaron, Construction Enquirer, 26 November 2014, 6 February 2015, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141219005833weblink">weblink 19 December 2014, who shipped prefabricated modules for its construction from China.Work on a £9.5M multi-storey car park began in November 2017, following a £2.5M upgrade to the customer reception centre in the silver zone car park.WEB,weblink Work Begins on Bristol Airport's First Multi-Storey Car Park, 13 November 2017, Bristol Airport, en, 30 May 2018, The new car park opened in May 2018. Bristol Airport set up a consultation which ran between 16 November 2017 and 26 January 2018 and sought opinions on the airport's priorities and initial concepts for developing the airport.In 2018 the airport applied to extend the airport to allow a growth in passenger numbers to 12 million. The plan involved enlarging the passenger terminus and plane taxiways. It also planned to add parking for 3,000 more cars, much of it on greenbelt land. There was much resistance to the plan with 84% of North Somerset residents who commented rejecting the expansion plan. Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), a network of organisations including Extinction Rebellion, North Somerset Parishes, Stop Airport Expansion, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace organised a huge resistance. This culminated in North Somerset council voting 18 to 7 to reject the plan on 10 February 2020. It said the detrimental effect on the area and the wider impact on the environment outweighed the narrower benefits to airport expansion.WEB,weblink Plan to expand Bristol airport rejected after climate protests, 11 February 2020, The Guardian, 5 March 2020, The airport lodged an appeal, and a four-week public inquiry is due to start in July 2021.NEWS,weblink How the legal fight on Bristol Airport's expansion will play out, Sumner, Stephen, Bristol Post, 4 January 2021, 5 January 2021, In February 2022 the airport was granted planning permission to increase the capacity of the airport from 10 million passengers to 12 million passengers after an appeal in the High Court was dismissed.WEB, Bristol Airport expansion gets go-ahead as High Court appeal dismissed,weblink 2 August 2023, www.business-live.co.uk, 31 January 2023, en, In May 2023, the courts dismissed an appeal against the airport's expansion from Bristol Airport Action Network.WEB, Appeal against Bristol Airport expansion dismissed by courts,weblink 2 August 2023, www.business-live.co.uk, 18 May 2023, en, In September 2023, Bristol Airport announced the commencement of its expansion plans, starting with the construction of a £60 million transport hub and car park. This project includes the creation of one of the region's largest bus interchanges on the top level of the new car park, with an expansion that will more than double the number of coach bays, increasing them from 6 to 16. Additionally, the new multi-storey car park will provide over 2,000 parking spaces. The project is expected to take 18 months and aims to significantly enhance transportation options and services for passengers arriving at or departing from the airport.NEWS,weblink Bristol Airport invests £60m in transport hub and car park, BBC News, 26 September 2023, 10 October 2023, en-UK, NEWS,weblink Bristol Airport to get new car park and transport hub as part of £60 million transformation

ITV News > date=26 September 2023

language=en-UK, HTTPS://WWW.BRISTOLAIRPORT.CO.UK/CORPORATE/NEWS-AND-MEDIA/NEWS-AND-MEDIA-CENTRE/2023/9/PUBLIC-TRANSPORT-HUB-PROJECT/>TITLE=BRISTOL AIRPORT ANNOUNCES TRANSFORMATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT HUB PROJECT

DATE=26 SEPTEMBER 2023

LANGUAGE=EN-UK, Airlines and destinations The following airlines operate scheduled flights to and from Bristol:WEB,weblink Where can I fly?, Bristol Airport, 26 September 2020, {{Airport-dest-list

Aegean Airlines > Athens International Airport

DOLANDE

TITLE=AEGEAN PRESENTS ITS 2023/2024 WINTER SEASON SCHEDULE

WEBSITE=AVIACIONLINE.COM

LANGUAGE=ES, 15 October 2023,

Aer Lingus > Cork Airport

,HTTPS://WWW.EMERALDAIRLINES.COM/ARTICLE/AER-LINGUS-REGIONAL-ANNOUNCES-EXPANSION-INTO-CORK-WITH-HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED-CORK-BRISTOL-SERVICE

Dublin Airport>Dublin

Aurigny > Guernsey

Blue Islands >Jersey

Corendon Airlines}}

Seasonal: Antalya Airport>AntalyaHTTPS://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/CORENDON-AIRLINES-ADDS-BRISTOL-FLIGHTS-FOR-SUMMER-2023 > TITLE = CORENDON AIRLINES ADDS BRISTOL FLIGHTS FOR SUMMER 2023

FIRST = PHIL

DATE = 5 JULY 2022,

easyJet > Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol>Amsterdam, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport

, EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg>Basel/Mulhouse, Belfast City Airport

, Belfast International Airport>Belfast–International, Berlin Brandenburg Airport

, Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport>Bordeaux, Copenhagen Airport

, Edinburgh Airport>Edinburgh, Enfidha–Hammamet International Airport

, Faro Airport>Faro, Fuerteventura Airport

, Madeira Airport>Funchal, Geneva Airport

, Gibraltar Airport>Gibraltar, Glasgow Airport

, Gran Canaria Airport>Gran Canaria, Hurghada International Airport

, Inverness Airport>Inverness, Isle of Man Airport

, Kraków John Paul II International Airport>Kraków, Lanzarote Airport

, Larnaca International Airport>Larnaca, Lisbon Airport

, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport>Madrid, Málaga Airport

, Marrakesh Menara Airport>Marrakesh,HTTPS://CENTREFORAVIATION.COM/NEWS/EASYJET-TO-LAUNCH-BRISTOL-MARRAKECH-SERVICE-1203964 > TITLE=NEWS FOR AIRLINES, AIRPORTS AND THE AVIATION INDUSTRY | CAPA, Milan Malpensa Airport

, Newcastle International Airport>Newcastle upon Tyne, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport

, Palma de Mallorca Airport>Palma de Mallorca, Paphos International Airport

, Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport>Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly Airport

, Pisa International Airport>Pisa, Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport

, Václav Havel Airport Prague>Prague, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport>Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife South Airport

, Toulouse-Blagnac Airport>Toulouse, Venice Marco Polo Airport

Seasonal: Antalya Airport>Antalya, Athens International Airport

, Bilbao Airport>Bilbao, Milas–Bodrum Airport

, Catania–Fontanarossa Airport>Catania, Chania International Airport

,HTTPS://WWW.AEROROUTES.COM/ENG/230131-U2NS23

WEBSITE=AEROROUTES

ACCESS-DATE=1 FEBRUARY 2023, Corfu International Airport

, Dalaman Airport>Dalaman, Dubrovnik Airport

, Grenoble-Isère Airport>Grenoble, Heraklion International Airport

, Ibiza Airport>Ibiza, Innsbruck Airport

, Kefalonia International Airport>Kefalonia, Kos International Airport

, La Rochelle – Île de Ré Airport>La Rochelle, Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport

, Malta Airport>Malta,HTTPS://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/EASYJET-LAUNCHES-RANGE-OF-NEW-ROUTES-FOR-SUMMER-2024 > TITLE = EASYJET LAUNCHES RANGE OF NEW ROUTES FOR SUMMER 2024

FIRST = ANDREW

DATE = 7 NOVEMBER 2023, Marseille Provence Airport

, Menorca Airport>Menorca, Región de Murcia International Airport

, Nantes Atlantique Airport>Nantes, Naples International Airport

, Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport>Olbia, Aktion National Airport

, Pula Airport>Pula, Keflavík International Airport

, Rhodes International Airport>Rhodes, Rovaniemi Airport

, Salzburg Airport>Salzburg, Santorini (Thira) International Airport

, Skiathos International Airport>Skiathos,HTTPS://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/EASYJET-TO-START-SERVING-SKIATHOS-NEXT-SUMMER > TITLE=EASYJET TO START SERVING SKIATHOS NEXT SUMMER, Sofia Airport

, Split Airport>Split, Tivat Airport

(begins 24 June 2024),HTTPS://WWW.NORTHSOMERSETTIMES.CO.UK/NEWS/23953925.EASYJET-ADD-18TH-AIRCRAFT-BRISTOL-AIRPORT-SUMMER-2024/

DATE=29 NOVEMBER 2023

Turin Airport>Turin, Zakynthos

Jet2.comHTTPS://WWW.JET2.COM/TIMETABLE

WEBSITE=JET2.COM, HTTPS://UKAVIATION.NEWS/JET2S-BRISTOL-AIRPORT-BASE-WILL-BRING-450000-HOLIDAY-SEATS/>TITLE=JET2'S BRISTOL AIRPORT BASE WILL BRING 450,000-HOLIDAY SEATS

DATE=11 NOVEMBER 2020,

Agadir–Al Massira Airport>Agadir (begins 6 October 2024),HTTPS://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/JET2-INTRODUCES-MOROCCO-FLIGHTS-AND-HOLIDAYS > TITLE=JET2 INTRODUCES MOROCCO FLIGHTS AND HOLIDAYS, Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

,HTTPS://WWW.JET2.COM/#FLIGHTS, {{better

date=May 2024}} Antalya Airport

, Faro Airport>Faro, Fuerteventura Airport

, Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport>Funchal, Gran Canaria Airport

, Lanzarote Airport>Lanzarote, Paphos International Airport

, Tenerife South Airport>Tenerife–South Seasonal: Almería Airport

, Bergen Airport, Flesland>Bergen (begins 5 May 2025),HTTPS://WWW.JET2.COM/TIMETABLE>TITLE=FLIGHT TIMETABLE

independent source needed

Milas–Bodrum Airport>Bodrum, Burgas Airport

,HTTPS://WWW.JET2.COM/EN/NEXT-SUMMER#FLIGHTS

ARCHIVE-DATE = 16 OCTOBER 2022

WEBSITE = JET2.COM, {{better

date=May 2024}} Chambéry Airport

, Chania International Airport>Chania,HTTPS://WWW.JET2.COM/ >TITLE=HOME

independent source needed

Corfu International Airport>Corfu, Dalaman Airport

, Geneva Airport>Geneva, Girona–Costa Brava Airport

, Heraklion International Airport>Heraklion, Ibiza Airport

, Innsbruck Airport>Innsbruck, Ä°zmir Adnan Menderes Airport

, Kalamata International Airport>Kalamata (begins 7 May 2025),HTTP://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/JET2-PUTS-16M-SEATS-ON-SALE-FOR-SUMMER-2025>TITLE=JET2 PUTS 16M SEATS ON SALE FOR SUMMER 2025

Kefalonia International Airport>Kefalonia, Kos International Airport

, Larnaca International Airport>Larnaca,HTTPS://WWW.JET2.COM/NEWS/EXPANDING_OUR_SUMMER_22_PROGRAMMES_FROM_EVEN_MORE_BASES/>TITLE=EXPANDING OUR SUMMER 22 PROGRAMMES FROM EVEN MORE BASES

DATE=20 JANUARY 2021, {{better

date=May 2024}} Málaga Airport

, Malta International Airport>Malta, Menorca Airport

, Palma de Mallorca Airport>Palma de Mallorca, Václav Havel Airport Prague

,HTTPS://WWW.NORTHSOMERSETTIMES.CO.UK/NEWS/23798914.JET2-COM-JET2CITYBREAKS-LAUNCH-CHRISTMAS-MARKETS-PROGRAMME/

FIRST = AMBER

DATE = 19 SEPTEMBER 2023

Aktion National Airport>Preveza/Lefkada, Reus Airport

, Keflavík International Airport>Reykjavík–Keflavík, Rhodes International Airport

, Skiathos International Airport>Skiathos, Thessaloniki Airport

, Verona Villafranca Airport>Verona, Vienna International Airport

,HTTPS://WWW.NORTHSOMERSETTIMES.CO.UK/NEWS/23798914.JET2-COM-JET2CITYBREAKS-LAUNCH-CHRISTMAS-MARKETS-PROGRAMME/

WEBSITE = NORTH SOMERSET TIMES

FIRST = AMBER

Zakynthos International Airport>Zakynthos

KLM > Amsterdam

Loganair > Aberdeen

Ryanair > Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport>Barcelona, Orio al Serio International Airport

, Henri Coandă International Airport>Bucharest–Otopeni, Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport

, Bydgoszcz Airport>Bydgoszcz,HTTPS://CORPORATE.RYANAIR.COM/NEWS/RYANAIR-ANNOUNCES-NEW-ROUTE-FROM-BYDGOSZCZ-TO-BRISTOL/ > TITLE=RYANAIR ANNOUNCES NEW ROUTE FROM BYDGOSZCZ TO BRISTOL – RYANAIR'S CORPORATE WEBSITE

ACCESS-DATE=31 OCTOBER 2022

Cologne Bonn Airport>Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen Airport

,HTTPS://WWW.BRITAINTRAVELDEALS.COM/RYANAIR-WILL-LAUNCH-A-NEW-ROUTE-FROM-BIRMINGHAM-BRISTOL-CARDIFF-EXETER-LEEDS-AND-LONDON/

WEBSITE=BRITAIN TRAVEL DEALS - CHEAP FLIGHTS, HOTELS, HOLIDAY PACKAGES, Dublin Airport

, Faro Airport>Faro, Gran Canaria Airport

, Kaunas Airport>Kaunas, Kraków John Paul II International Airport

, Lanzarote Airport>Lanzarote, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

, Málaga Airport>Málaga, Marrakesh Menara Airport

,HTTP://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/RYANAIR-ADDS-UK-ROUTES-WITH-SUMMER-2024-MOROCCO-EXPANSION

WEBSITE=TRAVEL WEEKLY, Porto Airport

,HTTP://TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK/NEWS/AIR/RYANAIR-ANNOUNCES-BIGGEST-EVER-BRISTOL-SCHEDULE-FOR-SUMMER-2023

WEBSITE=TRAVEL WEEKLY, Poznań–Ławica Airport

, Riga International Airport>Riga, Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport

, Sofia Airport>Sofia, Tenerife South Airport

, Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza>Tirana,HTTPS://CORPORATE.RYANAIR.COM/NEWS/RYANAIR-OPENS-6-NEW-TIRANA-ROUTES-FOR-S24/ > TITLE=RYANAIR OPENS 6 NEW TIRANA ROUTES FOR S24 – RYANAIR'S CORPORATE WEBSITE, Venice Marco Polo Airport

, Wrocław Airport>Wrocław Seasonal: Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport

, Béziers Cap d'Agde Airport>Béziers, Fuerteventura Airport

(begins 1 July 2024), Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport>Gdańsk,HTTPS://WWW.AEROROUTES.COM/ENG/230918-FRNW23 > TITLE=RYANAIR NW23 NETWORK CHANGES – 17SEP23, Girona–Costa Brava Airport

, Alpes–Isère Airport>Grenoble, Ibiza Airport

, Ireland West Airport>Knock, Limoges – Bellegarde Airport

, Marseille Airport>Marseille, Palma de Mallorca Airport

, Prague Airport>Prague (begins 4 July 2024), Turin Airport

, Valencia Airport>Valencia

SunExpress > Antalya Airport

HTTPS://CENTREFORAVIATION.COM/NEWS/SUNEXPRESS-TO-LAUNCH-BRISTOL-AND-NEWCASTLE-SERVICES-FROM-2023-1139244, News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA,

Swiss International Air Lines}}

Zurich Airport>ZurichHTTPS://SWISS.NEWSMARKET.COM/ENGLISH/PRESS-RELEASES/SWISS-WIDENS-ITS-RANGE-OF-SERVICES-IN-ITS-WINTER-SCHEDULES/S/5CF659DF-430E-475B-B657-1A67269F168F > TITLE=NEWSROOM : SWISS WIDENS ITS RANGE OF SERVICES IN ITS WINTER SCHEDULES, 5 July 2022,

TUI Airways> Aristides Pereira International Airport

(begins 10 July 2024),TUI AIRWAYS NS24 SHORT-HAUL NETWORK ADDITION SUMMARY

WEBSITE=AEROROUTES

Fuerteventura Airport>Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria Airport

, Hurghada International Airport>Hurghada, Lanzarote Airport

, Amílcar Cabral International Airport>Sal, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

, Tenerife South Airport>Tenerife–South Seasonal: Antalya Airport

, Burgas Airport>Burgas, Chambéry Airport

, Corfu International Airport>Corfu, Dalaman Airport

, Dubrovnik Airport>Dubrovnik, Geneva Airport

, Heraklion International Airport>Heraklion, Ibiza Airport

, Innsbruck Airport>Innsbruck, Kefalonia International Airport

, Kittilä Airport>Kittilä, Kos International Airport

, Larnaca International Airport>Larnaca, Málaga Airport

, Marrakesh Menara Airport>Marrakesh, Menorca Airport

, Naples International Airport>Naples, Palma de Mallorca Airport

, Paphos International Airport>Paphos, Reus Airport

, Rhodes International Airport>Rhodes, Rovaniemi Airport

, Salzburg Airport>Salzburg, Santorini (Thira) International Airport

, Skiathos International Airport>Skiathos, Thessaloniki Airport

, Toulouse Airport>Toulouse,HTTPS://AEROROUTES.COM/ENG/220623-TOMNW22TLS>TITLE=TUI AIRWAYS ADDS SEASONAL BRISTOL-TOULOUSE ROUTE IN NW22

DATE=23 JUNE 2022

Turin Airport>Turin, Verona Villafranca Airport

, Zakynthos International Airport>Zakynthos}} Statistics Passengers and movements {{Airport-Statistics|iata=BRS|titre=Bristol Airport passenger totals}}{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:1em auto;"|+

| 59,547

| 61,582

| 62,072

| 63,252

| 69,854

| 72,152

| 74,635

| 77,956

| 84,289

| 84,583

| 76,428

| 76,517

| 70,245

| 69,134

| 66,179

| 61,206

| 65,299

| 64,230

| 68,074

| 73,536

| 76,199

| 72,927

| 69,434

| 29,191

| 32,278

| 56,391

''Source: United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority

''UK AIRPORT DATA

URL-STATUS=DEAD

ARCHIVE-DATE=29 DECEMBER 2021

WEBSITE=CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY,

Busiest routes to and from Bristol (2018)WEB >URLHTTPS://WWW.CAA.CO.UK/DATA-AND-ANALYSIS/UK-AVIATION-MARKET/AIRPORTS/UK-AIRPORT-DATA/UK-AIRPORT-DATA-2022/ANNUAL-2022/, titleAirport Data 2022, date21 March 2023, publisherUK Civil Aviation Authority, atTables 12.1(XLS) and 12.2 (XLS), access-date23 March 2023, ">

Busiest routes{|class"wikitable sortable" style"margin:1em auto;"Busiest routes to and from Bristol (2018)WEB >URLHTTPS://WWW.CAA.CO.UK/DATA-AND-ANALYSIS/UK-AVIATION-MARKET/AIRPORTS/UK-AIRPORT-DATA/UK-AIRPORT-DATA-2022/ANNUAL-2022/, titleAirport Data 2022, date21 March 2023, publisherUK Civil Aviation Authority, atTables 12.1(XLS) and 12.2 (XLS), access-date23 March 2023,

! Rank || Airport || Total passengers || Change2021 / 22Alicante Airport>Alicante align='right'|{{increase}} 298.4%Dublin Airport>Dublin align='right'|{{increase}} 231.3%Palma de Mallorca Airport>Palma de Mallorca align='right'|{{increase}} 244.2%Amsterdam Airport Schiphol>Amsterdam align='right'| {{increase}} 478.8%Málaga Airport>Málaga align='right'|{{increase}} 298.8%Edinburgh Airport>Edinburgh align='right'|{{increase}} 69.7%Tenerife South Airport>Tenerife–South align='right'|{{increase}} 333.2%Faro Airport>Faro align='right'|{{increase}} 285.4%Glasgow Airport>Glasgow align='right'|{{increase}} 106.3%Belfast International Airport>Belfast–International align='right'|{{increase}} 50.9%

Runway

Bristol Airport has one runway designated 09/27. As the prevailing wind is from the southwest, runway 27 (the westerly direction) is used about 70% of the time. The airport has one of the shortest international airport runways in the country at just {{convert|2011|m|abbr=on|ft}} in length, with runway 27 having a threshold displacement of {{convert|140|m}}. Despite the short runway length, the airfield is able to accommodate aircraft as large as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330.

Ground transport

(File:Bristol Redcliff Way - First 36827 (YP67XDC).JPG|thumb|right|A Bristol Airport Flyer bus in 2019)Bristol Airport is located on the A38, {{convert|8|mi|0}} southwest of Bristol city centre. The airport is signposted from the M5 motorway, from junction 22 when approaching from the south and junction 18 when approaching from the north. Neither gives quick access to the airport, a fact which was recognised by the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study. In November 2013, Bristol and North Somerset councils approved a planning application for the South Bristol Link Road,WEB,weblink BBC News, South Bristol link road: Bristol City Council gives approval, 27 November 2013, 27 November 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131129013710weblink">weblink 29 November 2013, which provides a link from the A38 northwards to the A370 at Long Ashton, giving the airport an improved connection to the M5, and a link from the A38 southwards to Hengrove Park, connecting to the Bristol Ring Road.NEWS,weblink £45m link road scheme - planning documents reveal details, North Somerset Times, 29 July 2013, 1 September 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131004222205weblink">weblink 4 October 2013, The South Bristol Link, part of the MetroBus rapid transit route,WEB, South Bristol Link,weblink Travelwest, 22 April 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160620175453weblink">weblink 20 June 2016, was opened in January 2017 and is expected to provide a reduction in journey times to the airport for both bus passengers and car drivers.NEWS, Special report: What the South Bristol Link road will do for business,weblink South West Business, 31 March 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160509121536weblink">weblink 9 May 2016, The Airport Flyer bus service links the airport to Bristol Temple Meads railway station and Bristol bus station.NEWS,weblink More buses and quicker journey on Bristol airport route, Bristol Post, 22 August 2013, 31 August 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130827101921weblink">weblink 27 August 2013, The service, numbered A1, is operated by First West of England on behalf of Bristol Airport.WEB,weblink Bristol Flyer, Bristol Airport,weblink 1 October 2017, live, 2 October 2017, The same company operated the A2 service from/to Weston-super-Mare, and the A3 on a more direct route to/from Weston-super-Mare railway station. The A4 'Air Decker' service operated by Bath Bus Company links the airport with southern suburbs of Bristol, Keynsham and Bath.WEB,weblink Air Decker, Bath Bus Company, en-US,weblink 16 March 2018, live, 11 April 2018, Service A2 now only operates as far as Bedminster. The 'South West Falcon' service operated by Stagecoach South West runs between Bristol and Plymouth, via the airport and Bridgwater, Taunton and Exeter.WEB,weblink SW Falcon: From Plymouth to Bristol & back again 24/7, Stagecoach, en,weblink 3 February 2016, live, 11 April 2018, Service 216 links the airport to Newport and Cardiff.The WESTlink on-demand bus also serves the airport.In September 2023 as part as the airports expansion plans, construction started on a £60 million transport hub which will include one of the region's largest bus interchanges increasing the number of bus and coach bays from 6 to 16.

Proposed rail link

In July 2016, the airport's chief executive officer Robert Sinclair discussed the possibility of a rail link to the airport.WEB,weblink The sky's the limit: Bristol Airport adapts to meet demand, 6 October 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161005090653weblink">weblink 5 October 2016, The West of England LEP subsequently announced their application to the Department for Transport's Large Local Major Transport Schemes fund for the "South West Bristol Economic Link" – a strategy designed to address "poor connectivity between North Somerset, Bristol Airport and Bristol", which includes new road links as well as light or heavy rail opportunities.WEB,weblink Transport investment, westofenglandlep.co.uk, 6 October 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161009121513weblink">weblink 9 October 2016, By 2019, this proposal had been expanded as a mass transit line with potential for underground sections.

General aviation

File:Cessna 525a citationjet cj2 g-ocjz arp.jpg|thumb|Centreline Air Charter Cessna Citation CJ2Cessna Citation CJ2Bristol Airport is a general aviation (GA) centre. In 2006, the GA terminal was relocated from the north side next to the control tower to a purpose-built facility on the south east corner of the field. Handling for visiting executive GA aircraft is managed by Bristol Flying Centre, which also provides engineering services and operates a fleet of business jets trading as Centreline Air Charter. Handling for light GA aircraft is managed by the Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club.In 2012, Bristol Flying Centre doubled the size of its terminal,NEWS,weblink Bristol Flying Centre new FBO open for business, Eva International news, 14 March 2013, 4 August 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160305044040weblink">weblink 5 March 2016, to {{convert|6500|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, with self-contained security facilities and two new passenger lounges.NEWS,weblink Bristol Flying Center Set for Expansion, Epstein, Curt, Aviation International News, 1 January 2013, 4 August 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130528022227weblink">weblink 28 May 2013, Following the closure of Bristol Filton Airport at the end of 2012, Bristol Flying Centre gained fixed-base operator traffic such as the corporate shuttle for Airbus, flying to Toulouse, and the shuttle for BAE Systems. In July 2013, the Department for Transport gave approval for Bristol Flying Centre to handle charter flights directly, without needing to clear through the main airport terminal.NEWS,weblink Bristol airport sets sights on becoming major UK business aviation hub, Sarsfield, Kate, flightglobal.com, 25 July 2013, 4 August 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130728134747weblink">weblink 28 July 2013, In 2014, a new building called The Bristol Flying School was constructed to re-house the Bristol & Wessex Aeroplane Club and to contain a flying school operated by Aeros Flight Training, which formerly operated at Filton Airport.NEWS,weblink Ribbeck, Michael, Flying school comes in to land at new headquarters, Bristol Post, 16 October 2014, 13 December 2014, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141206203520weblink">weblink 6 December 2014,

Accidents and incidents

On 19 January 1970, Vickers Viscount G-AMOA of Cambrian Airways was damaged beyond economic repair in a heavy landing.WEB,weblink Accident description, Aviation Safety Network, 8 October 2009, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121025102530weblink">weblink 25 October 2012, On 3 October 2010, a Thomson Airways Boeing 767 aircraft, registration G-OOBK, landed heavily on runway 09 in severe weather conditions, reduced visibility and turbulence. The flight number 519 was from Cancún Airport in Mexico and carried 258 passengers and 12 crew members. No injuries were reported. During approach, the commander decided to perform a manual landing as weather reported at Bristol was not consistent with that presented to them at their briefing. Both the commander and co-pilot were thrown forward during the touchdown, and this resulted in the commander pushing the control column forward, to a nose down position. The aircraft then rapidly pitched up and down, before eventually settling on the landing gear. None of the pilots had recent or regular experience of landings on runway 09, and they only operated to Bristol Airport approximately twice a year.WEB,weblink Boeing 767-324, G-OOBK, 3 October 2010, GOV.UK, en, 2019-05-10,weblink 10 May 2019, live, On 22 December 2017, a BMI Regional Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, registration G-CKAG, exited the runway and became grounded after landing at 11:35. The flight was from Frankfurt and was carrying 22 passengers and three crew. No injuries were reported. The parking brake had been applied instead of the speed brakes before landing. The aircraft touched down on runway 27, the crew lost control of the aircraft and the aircraft exited the runway and entered a grass zone to the left, crossing taxiway Hotel at speed, causing the main landing gear tyres to burst. The aircraft came to rest in the grass shortly after. The aircraft was towed to the gate some 14 hours later. The incident resulted in several flights being diverted to other airports on what was called "Frantic Friday" as holidaymakers and families travelled for the Christmas period.NEWS,weblink Plane comes off runway after landing, 22 December 2017, BBC News: Bristol, 23 December 2017, en-GB,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171223000840weblink">weblink 23 December 2017, live,

Notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}

• {{Official website}}
• Airport committee archive papers {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925030930weblink |date=25 September 2020 }}

{{Airports in the United Kingdom}}{{Transport in Bristol}}{{Authority control}}