Bristol Airport has launched a two-month consultation on its long-term expansion plans including a bigger terminal and an extended runway that would enable more flights.
The transport hub said its masterplan to 2040 would meet the “strong and growing” demand for its services in the region. Under the proposals, the airport expects to grow beyond the current allowance of 12 million passengers a year to 15 million by around 2036.
The plans also include new food and drinks outlets within the terminal; an extra hotel; more car parking; and improvements to public transport connections to and from the site.
The airport has said the proposals will allow it to provide routes to more destinations including a limited number of new longer-haul flights connecting the region directly with places such as the east coast of the US and the Middle East.
It claims the development will 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.
The masterplan is not a planning application but the transport hub said it would “set a clear development intent” and give local people the opportunity to provide feedback. A planning application is likely to go to North Somerset Council next year.
Dave Lees, chief executive of Bristol Airport, said: “We constantly look at trends in air travel and we’ve been pleasantly surprised that people want to continue to travel by air. We’ve seen since the pandemic a real resurgence in terms of people wanting to connect with friends and family across Europe as well as across the world and that will inform our plans as we go forward over the coming years.
“The masterplan will look at what further development might be required to meet this growing demand for air travel and we’d welcome input from people to help shape our plans.”
Bristol Airport masterplan proposals
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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.
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Supporting facilities: Improved on-site facilities including retail, food and drink, and an additional hotel, as well as more space for flight catering, engineering and other requirements for airport businesses.
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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.
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Transport: Capacity improvements on the A38 and improvements to public transport connections to the Airport are proposed.
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Parking provision: Plans to increase car parking provision to the north and south of the airport.
In October, the airport announced it was undertaking a £400m investment programme in a bid to enhance the passenger experience. The improvements will take place over the next five years, including adding more space to the terminal.
“We recognise there will be concerns about carbon emissions resulting from airport growth and the implications for climate change,” said Mr Lees. “So we are bringing forward proposals for what we consider to be responsible growth, growth that is both within the current UK carbon budgets required to meet net zero for all emissions by 2050, and with measures to achieve net zero airport operations by 2030.
“Meanwhile, we are also committed to working with partners in our region on aviation decarbonisation.”
Last year, the High Court dismissed a legal challenge brought against the planning inspectorate’s permission for Bristol Airport’s expanded capacity. North Somerset Council rejected the airport’s expansion proposals in 2020 on environmental grounds, but that decision was later overturned by the government agency.
The consultation runs until 31 January 2025. People can find out more about the proposals and provide feedback at bristolairport.co.uk/future-plans.