Bristol Airport bids to expand long-haul reach with £500m expansion plan

Bristol Airport wants to extend its runway to allow for long-haul flights as part of an ambitious £500 million expansion plan.

 

The proposal, submitted to North Somerset Council, would enable the airport to provide more destinations, including “world cities within Europe and beyond” with a limited number of new flights to North America, the Middle East, with connections to Asia and beyond. 

The proposals, likely to trigger fierce local opposition, also call for a rise the current passenger cap of 12 million passengers a year to 15 million, which it expects to reach in the late 2030s.  Currently 10.8 million people use Bristol Airport annually. 

 

Aircraft movements would go up from 85,990 to 100,000 a year “in the longer term” to meet demand for air travel. This would result in 35 extra aircraft movements on a busy day in peak period.

 

The airport is proposing to raise night flights by 1,000 a year – which it claims would be four a night on average over a busy peak period. 

“The increase of 3 million passengers per annum equates to 1% of the total number of passenger journeys made through UK airports in the last year,” the airport notes.

 

“The plans would see around £500 million invested in improvements at the airport and local infrastructure.

 

“These include extending the runway to accommodate larger aircraft and increasing capacity of the terminal that includes a number of improvements to enhance the customer experience, including more space, a wider choice of retail and restaurants and the ability to walk onto aircraft without getting on a bus.”

 

The detailed plans, including impact assessments and consultation analysis, are expected to be published on North Somerset Council’s planning webpage in the next fortnight.

 

The council will then set out how local people and organisations can view the application and submit comments, which will be considered before the council makes a decision later this year. 
 

The airport points out that the plans would see an additional 1,000 on-site jobs for local people including roles such as engineers, mechanics, airline crew, retail assistants and caterers. 

 

A total of 36,000 jobs would be supported in the southwest and South Wales within the supply chain “with wider economy benefits”. 

 

Additionally, partnerships with local colleges providing support to get people into work, skills training and apprenticeships for local people are proposed. 

The plans include: 

 

·                     A larger terminal with more space, more shops and restaurants. A bigger immigration hall and baggage handling facilities.  

·                     Runway and taxiway improvements incorporating changes to approach lights to allow for larger aircraft to connect the region directly with North America and the Middle East.  

·                     Improvements including travelators to help passengers get to their gates and the ability to walk to and from aircraft without using buses. 

·                     “Significant increase” in the number of passengers travelling by public transport alongside additional car parking spaces. 

·                     Highway improvements on the A38, and a new bus lane making travel more reliable between the north and south side. 

·                     Expanded car hire facility to serve an increase in inbound visitors and business travellers. 

·                     A maintenance hangar – creating high-skill jobs and preventing the need for aircraft based at the airport to fly elsewhere for maintenance. 

 

“Fewer local people and business travellers would need to rely on travelling to London airports and could instead explore places further afield from their local airport, while also enabling businesses to reach new markets and the tourism sector to benefit from more international visitors exploring our region,” the airport argues.  

 

Chief executive Dave Lees said: “Our proposals deliver what customers have told us they want to see at their local airport.  We will open up opportunities to visit places further afield and for businesses to expand into new international markets. 
 
“This would improve international connectivity to key world cities enhancing trade, supporting high value sectors and improving inward investment, as well as supporting our world-leading universities in their research and innovation endeavours. 
 
“It is also about connecting family and friends – something that’s important for the west of England where 30% of people now have close family members living abroad.”  
 
The plans come six months after the west of England’s growth strategy was published setting out opportunities for economic development in the region, which has the fastest growing and most productive regional economy outside of London. 
  
Lees added: “There is an incredible amount of economic investment in the west of England and it’s an exciting time for the region with so much opportunity.

 

“At Bristol Airport we have a responsibility to meet that level of ambition and ensure we have an Airport that connects our region and meets demand from a growing population for air travel.” 

 

Environmental enhancements include a 10% net gain in biodiversity, new hedgerows, tree planting, and bat roosts. A dedicated community fund for nearest communities would see investment in community facilities and support for local projects, according to the airport. 
 
A consultation on the airport’s master plan that set out long-term growth plans was held in 2024. A supplementary consultation took place last year on proposals to modify runway approach lighting. Around 3,000 people engaged in the consultation process.