Help Shape Airport’s Future Plans

The Airport has set out its masterplan to 2040 to meet the strong and growing demand of people in the region using the Airport. The consultation, which started in November last year, runs until 31 January.

The proposals would enable the Airport to provide more connections and serve new destinations, including a limited number of new longer-haul flights, connecting the region directly with destinations such as the east coast of America and the Middle East.

The future development is forecast to support more than 37,000 jobs in the South West and South Wales – including an additional 1,000 jobs at the Airport, with employment focused on areas including Weston-super-Mare and South Bristol.

There are now more than 10 million passengers a year using Bristol Airport, providing more than 5,000 local jobs and contributing £2 billion to the regional economy. Connecting the region to more than 115 destinations increases productivity, supports businesses and enables inbound tourism.

The masterplan to 2040 will look at expected passenger growth beyond the current allowance of 12 million passengers per annum, so it can serve up to 15 million passengers per year by around 2036. This will set a clear development intent to be given due consideration in the local planning process, with a planning application likely to be going to North Somerset Council later this year.

People can view the proposals and explore an interactive map online or visit one of the remaining drop-in sessions at Cleeve Village Hall on Thursday 9 January (3pm-8pm) or Felton Village Hall on Saturday 11 January (10.30am-3pm). The website can be accessed at: www.bristolairport.co.uk/future-plans

Proposals include:

· Terminal extension: A larger terminal building, with improved walkways directly serving aircraft and so reducing passenger transport to aircraft by bus. To further improve the customer experience, travellators would be installed.

· Supporting facilities: Improved on-site facilities including retail, food and beverage and an additional hotel, as well as more space for flight catering, engineering and other requirements for airport businesses.

· Airfield: New taxiways, apron extensions and additional aircraft stands. A short runway improvement – around the size of one and a half football pitches – will enable longer-range aircraft, serving a limited number of long-haul destinations and more efficient short-haul flights that will continue to be the majority of flights for the foreseeable future. The runway improvement could help reduce noise from departing aircraft to the west.

· Transport: Capacity improvements on the A38 and improvements to public transport connections to the Airport are proposed.

· Parking provision: Plans to increase car parking provision to the north and south of the Airport.

UK Government policy supports the growth of airports outside the South East of England that make better use of existing runways, and that grow and develop new routes and services. Bristol Airport’s proposals to provide new destinations would reduce the journeys to London airports, which 10 million passengers make from the South West and South Wales every year.