Bristol Airport car parking charges are going up from the start of next week. Changes to the tariffs for the ‘Drop & Go’ and ‘Short Stay and Pick-Up’ car parks will be introduced on Monday (March 3).
The cost of using the ‘Drop & Go’ car park for a 10-minute stay will increase from £6 to £7, while the ‘Short Stay and Pick-Up’ car park rises from £6 to £7, for 30 minutes.
The increase in the National Insurance rate for employers has been blamed for the hike. Airport bosses said the increased price helps discourage longer stays in an area with limited spaces, while encouraging the use of more sustainable forms of transport to the Airport, including public transport.
Drop and Go is the highest generator of car traffic, resulting in four journeys for those dropping off and picking up, rather than two, according to the airport. And part of the airport’s access strategy is a focus on increasing the number of customers using public transport and reducing emissions caused by transport.
Customers dropping off family and friends, who have a Blue Badge, will continue to be able to use the Drop & Go car park for an extended stay of 40 minutes for £7, on scanning the Blue Badge at the exit barrier. A free one-hour car park is located by the entrance to Silver Zone to the south, and next to it, is a free shuttle bus.
Customers have a choice of other options including:
- For longer stays, there are options to park in the Silver Zone car park, with a courtesy bus transfer to the terminal, or the Multi-Storey Car Park, which is a 4-8 minute walk to the airport. There is also a meet and greet service
- There are bus service options that arrive and depart from the coach park a few minutes walk from the terminal. These include regular services between the airport and Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Bath, as well as connections to and from the South West, South Wales, Gloucestershire and Birmingham
An airport spokesperson said: “During the summer, the airport will be opening a new £60m Public Transport Interchange and car park, as part of a £400m upgrade. It will provide one of the region’s largest coach/bus interchanges, enhancing services and accessibility for customers whether arriving or departing from Bristol Airport.
“The investment will provide a significantly enlarged public transport interchange, improved internal road system and an additional multi-storey car park providing customer enhancements such as waiting rooms and rest facilities. The project forms part of Bristol Airport’s transformational development plan enabling 12 million passengers a year to use the airport.”