News Release (19/12/11)
Winter sun, ski and seasonal reunions will boost passenger numbers
Bristol Airport is preparing for a busy week in the run up to Christmas, with up to 100,000 passengers expected to pass through terminal in the week leading up to the big day (18-24 December).
As well as those heading for sunnier climes or visiting friends and family overseas for the festive season, December also sees the start of the ski season. Thousands of seats are available on flights to Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy and Switzerland, including Helvetic Airways’ new three times weekly service to Zurich on which ski equipment can be carried free of charge.
The Canary Islands remain the most popular destination for winter sun, while shoppers looking for inspiration can head for Christmas markets in Brussels, Berlin, Prague and Krakow, amongst others. Lapland flights are as popular as ever with younger passengers, with short-breaks available from one to five days in duration.
But it is not all one-way traffic. Bristol Airport is also expecting an influx of visitors from overseas during the festive season, with many travellers returning home or visiting friends and family in the region.
Shaun Browne, Aviation Director at Bristol Airport, said:
“December is always a busy month, with people taking advantage of the holidays to have a well-earned break or get together with friends and family. Winters sports are also incredibly popular across the South West, and we expect to see a surge of late bookings as snow reports from the slopes around Europe improve.”
Passengers are being advised to allow sufficient time to get to the Airport and complete essential processes such as check-in, security and boarding, as well as factoring in the extra volume of traffic on the roads when planning journeys.
Once at the Airport, passengers can take advantage of a seasonal special offer from Starbucks, with drinks such as eggnog and gingerbread latte on the menu. World Duty Free has a range of festive gifts and savings of at least 20 per cent on brand name fragrances as well as great deals on wines and spirits. Those waiting to board a flight can relax with a free makeover from a trained make-up artist in the ‘Pamper Zone’, or enjoy a pint of special edition Christmas Steps beer from Butcombe Brewery in Bar Zero 9.
A total of ten flights (five arrivals and five departures) will operate on Christmas Day, including a Thomson Airways flight to Lanzarote and scheduled services to Paris and Amsterdam with Air France-KLM.