The latest forecasts anticipate that the Airport will reach 12 mppa by 2027/28. Beyond this consented growth, it is expected that there is demand for 15 mppa to use the Airport by 2036, based on economic growth in our region and demand from passengers across South Wales and the South West region.
Whilst our plans and proposals seek to make the best use of our existing facilities, to accommodate a growth in passenger numbers to 15 mppa, our proposals include an expansion of the airfield apron with additional aircraft stands, improvements to the runway, extensions to the existing terminal and additional ancillary buildings and car parking.
On the link below, you will find our interactive map which shows what the Airport will look like in the next few years, and what it could look like by 2040.
Raising capacity to 15 mppa
The Bristol Airport terminal (including linked piers, or walkways, to gates) currently has a gross floor area of approximately 50,000 square metres (sqm) and has permission to be extended to 70,000 sqm as part of the 12mppa planning permission.
We are proposing to extend the terminal floor area to approximately 130,000sqm, capable of serving 15 mppa and delivering an improved customer experience in terms of waiting areas, retail space and facilities.
Indicative spatial requirements for airport facilities - such as check-in, security, departure lounge, and baggage reclaim - have informed the final draft Master Plan. Further work will be undertaken to develop and define the design of the terminal extension.
Bristol Airport has a short runway when compared to other UK airports at just 2,011 metres in length. We are proposing a small extension of some 150 metres, which will make it around 7% longer. It will be built within the existing Airport boundaries, in the space between the existing runway and the A38.
The extension would accommodate aircraft that could serve a limited number of long-haul routes. New and wider taxiways will also enable more efficient aircraft movement around the airfield, reducing congestion and delays at peak times.
We are working on transport plans to ensure additional traffic associated with Airport growth will not cause significant congestion and delays on the A38.
This includes:
- Alterations to the A38 and Downside Road junction, improving traffic flows and access to the Airport
- Other offsite highway works in response to traffic assessments.
- Bus priority lanes within the Airport site and off-site.
We will continue to work with the West of England Combined Authority as options are developed for a mass transit connection to the Airport. An indicative location has been identified on the Master Plan to accommodate a mass transit interchange.
Managing the environmental effects of growth
We are in the process of assessing the environmental effects of our proposals and are developing measures to avoid, reduce, and mitigate adverse impacts, as well as identifying opportunities for environmental enhancement.
We know that the noise resulting from Airport growth is likely to be a key concern for communities. A preliminary assessment of the likely noise effects of additional aircraft movements, including an increase in night flights, has been undertaken.
In the initial years of growth beyond 12 mppa, there are likely to be increases in the number of households affected by aircraft noise. We will be reviewing our Noise Mitigation Scheme and bringing forward proposals to support the installation of noise insulation for households likely to experience significant effects because of aircraft noise.
Over time with the transition to more modern aircraft the areas most affected by aircraft noise will reduce.
By 2036, around 75% of all aircraft movements will be undertaken by modern aircraft, such as the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX 8. These aircraft provide a 15-20% greater fuel efficiency than their predecessors with up to a 40% reduction in noise.
The proposals will require the development of land that is currently open fields to the north of the airfield and west of the terminal. Additional fields to the south of the airfield are proposed to be developed for car parking.
The local landscape will be altered by the development, with new buildings and infrastructure prominent in locations around the Airport. To reduce visibility and the impact on local landscape, we are developing landscape plans including planted bunds and screening.
We aim to increase the number of passengers using public transport to over 20% through the provision of new bus and coach links, as well as increased frequency of services, to link up with our new Public Transport Interchange.
We intend to revise our Surface Access Strategy and Staff Travel Plan to introduce new targets and measures to reduce the proportion of car trips made to the Airport. We will continue to provide free bus travel for all our staff using the A1 Airport Flyer to Bristol and the A3 Weston Flyer to Weston Super Mare.
Emissions from aircraft, ground operations, and traffic will need to meet strict national rules.
Measures to manage emissions will include:
- Fixed electrical power at stands to reduce engine use on the ground.
- Continued work with airlines to use the most modern, efficient aircraft.
- Low and zero emissions fleet equipment and vehicles.
We recognise that there will be concerns about the carbon emissions resulting from Airport growth and the implications for climate change.
We are bringing forward proposals for what we consider to be responsible growth, which is within the UK carbon budgets required to meet net zero emissions by 2050. We are on track to achieve net zero airport operations by 2030. As we develop our proposals, we will update our Sustainability Strategy with additional actions to keep us on track with our commitments.
Benefits of growth
Regional airports like Bristol Airport play an important part in accommodating forecast growth in demand for aviation in the UK, particularly by helping to take some pressure off London airports. Bristol Airport, as the UK’s eighth busiest airport, plays an important role in UK connectivity. Current and planned new international connections attract business activity, boost the economy of our region, and provide access to new markets for existing businesses.
There are more than 5,000 jobs on-site, both employed by Bristol Airport itself and some of the 70+ companies that operate at the Airport. Bristol Airport is a Real Living Wage employer, as independently accredited by the Real Living Wage Foundation. Across the wider region, the Airport supports a further 25,000 jobs.
We provide accessible jobs to some of the most deprived areas of our region, including parts of Weston-super-Mare and south Bristol. All Airport passholders can commute to work for free on the A1 Airport Flyer and A3 Weston Flyer bus services.
Growing the Airport to serve 15 million passengers per year would create an estimated 1,000 more on-site jobs. Across the region, growth would support a total of 37,000 jobs through our supply chain and areas like inbound tourism.
Bristol Airport is critical to our region’s economy and we want to further support its growth. By connecting our region to more than 120 destinations, we boost productivity, support businesses, and enable inbound tourism. The Airport currently contributes around £2 billion of Gross Value Added to the South West of England and South Wales economy.
By serving 15 million passengers per year, Bristol Airport would increase its economic contribution by 50% a third to £3 billion. In North Somerset alone, this contribution would be worth £720m.
We will be revising our Skills and Employment Plan to ensure that local people have the skills and opportunities to work at Bristol Airport, both during construction and when operation as a larger business.
Around 10 million passengers per year travel out of the South West of England and South Wales to fly from London airports. Providing more connections to popular destinations and to new destinations will enable more passengers in our region to use Bristol Airport. Our proposals for growth include a short runway extension that would enable direct routes to destinations including New York and Dubai, significantly improving the region’s global connectivity.