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 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.
Bristol Airport has started a two-month-long consultation on its proposals, allowing an opportunity for the public to help shape the plans.
A dedicated website provides more information – including an interactive map – detailing proposals, which are also being shared with local residents.
More than 10 million passengers a year now use Bristol Airport, providing in excess of 5,000 local jobs and contributing £2bn to the regional economy. The masterplan to 2040 will look at expected passenger growth beyond the current allowance of 12 million passengers per annum, enabling the airport to serve up to 15 million passengers per year by around 2036. According to the airport, 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 next year.
Proposals include a larger terminal building, with improved walkways directly serving aircraft; improved on-site facilities including retail, F&B and an additional hotel; and new taxiways, apron extensions and additional aircraft stands. A short runway improvement 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. Capacity improvements on the A38 and improvements to public transport connections to the airport have been proposed, while the plans include provision of increasing car parking to the north and south of the airport.
Dave Lees, chief executive officer of Bristol Airport, said: “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.”
Lees added that more than £400m is currently being invested on improving customer experience and reducing the airport’s carbon emissions.
“We recognise there will be concerns about carbon emissions resulting from airport growth and the implications for climate change. 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,” he said.
