Address: Bristol International Airport, Bristol, BS48 3DY
Bristol International Airport is located 8 miles south of the city centre. The airport began in 1929 when a group of local businessmen bought an area of farmland at Whitchurch, and the airport was later offically opened in 1930 by HRH Prince George. The airport has had a somewhat turbulant history with passenger numbers rising to only fall again, and changing ownership on a number of occassions. However, today the airport is a huge success and in 2002 it was officially the fastest growing airport in the UK. In 2003 passenger numbers reached the highest ever, with a staggering 3.8 million passengers travelling through the airport. By 2030 Bristol Airport could expect a massive 12 million passengers.
Address:
Airport
Address: Bristol International Airport, Bristol, BS48 3DY
Destinations:
Destinations
Algarve
Austria - Salzburg
Bulgaria -Bourgas
Bulgaria - Varna
Corfu
Corsica
Costa Blanca
Costa Brava
Costa del Sol
Costa Dorada
Crete
Croatia - Split
Cyprus - Larnaca
Cyprus - Paphos
Fuerteventura
Gran Canaria
Halkidiki
Ibiza
Italy - Brescia, Naples, Pisa, Venice,Verona
Kavala
Kefalonia
Kos
Lanzarote
Madeira
Majorca
Malta
Menorca
Pelion - Volos
Rhodes
Santorini
Sardinia
Skiathos
Tenerife
Tunisia
Turkey - Antalya,Bodrum, Dalaman
Zante
How to reach-Car:
Getting there by Car
Bristol International is located 8 miles south of Bristol City Centre. From the north leave the M5 at junction 18 (signposted A4 Bristol & Airport). Take the A4 towards Bristol following signs for the airport. Go past Bristol City Football ground and connect with the A38 towards Taunton.
From the South leave the M5 at Junction 22, at roundabout take 3rd exit signposted A38. At East Brent roundabout joining the A370 take 2nd exit signposted A38 & airport. Continue on this road for approx 11 miles, airport is on the left.
From the East, at junction 20 of the M4 join the M5 southbound. Exit the M5 at junction 18 (signposted A4 Bristol & Airport). Take the A4 towards Bristol following signs for the airport.
From South east, follow the A4 towards Bristol, bear left onto the A4174 signposted Ring Road. Continue to follow signs for Airport and A38 Taunton. From South Wales follow M4 over the second Severn Crossing.
At junction 22 branch left to join M49 (Signposted South West) and then join M5. Leave the M5 at junction 18 (signposted A4 Bristol & Airport). Take the A4 towards Bristol following signs for the airport.
How to reach-Taxi:
Getting there by Taxi
How to reach-Bus:
Getting there by Bus / Coach
International Flyer
The Bristol International Flyer is the only express coach link between Bristol railway station (Temple Meads) and Bristol bus station and Bristol International Airport. There is a Flyer lounge at Temple Meads train station. The journey time is approximately 30 minutes. There is no need to pre book, simply pay on board. The service operates every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
National Express
National Express coaches run all over the UK to Bristol Bus Station. From there you can connect onto the Bristol International Flyer. Contact National Express
Other Services
121 First service from Weston-super-Mare. For further information call Traveline .
How to reach-Train:
Getting there by Train
Two trains an hour run between London Paddington, Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads usually stopping at Chippenham and Bath Spa stations. Other services include: Cardiff to Bristol every 30 minutes and Exeter and Plymouth to Bristol every hour. For journey times and fares contact National Rail.
Facilities:
Eating
Delice de France
La Brioche Doree
Brunel Bar
Burger King
The Food Villiage
Viva Coffee Shop
Services:
Services
Bureau de change - ground and 1st floor
Cash Manchines - ground floor
Toilets with disabled access and babycare - throughout terminal
Executive Lounges - mezzanine floor
Games Zones - 1st floor
Taxi service - Bristol International Cars. Tel (01275) 474888
Car hire companies
Tourist information desk
Business services (fax, photocopier and internet)
Shopping:
Shopping
Flying visit - convenience store
WHSmith
Nuance Duty and Tax Free Shopping
Claire's Accessories
Dorothy Perkins
Bristol Blue Glass
Disabled:
Disabled
Special Assistance Parking available with allocated spaces
Accessible toilet facilities throughout terminal
Lifts to upper levels
Low level telephones
Wheelchair use
Children:
Children
Babycare facilities throughout terminal
Several Games zones on 1st floor
Facts & Figures:
Facts & Figures
Number of...
Passengers, year 4 million
Destinations Over 80 direct
Terminals 1
Runways 1 runway - 2,011 metres in length
History:
History
Plans for the airport began back in 1927 when a group of local businessmen raised £6,000 through public subscriptions to inaugurate a flying club at Filton Aerodrome, which became the birthplace of Concorde. In 1929 they decided to develop a fully-fledged Bristol airport and bought an area of farmland at Whitchurch where the airport was to be built.
The airport was officially opened in 1930 by HRH Prince George, during this period Bristol was only the third civil airport in the country. 1939 saw 4000 passengers through the airport but war broke out and the airport was requisitioned by the Air Ministry. Airlines such as Imperial Airways and KLM were transferred from London's Croydon Airport to Whitchurch. Personalities such as Winston Churchill and Amy Johnson used the Airport during this period.
It was thought that there was a limited future for the airport after the war but in 1955 Bristol won a ten year battle for a new city airport. Lulsgate Botton Airfield was purchased by the Bristol Corporation for £55,000.
The Duchess of Kent opened the new airport in 1957 and this first year of operation saw 33,000 passengers and 608,000 kilos of freight pass through the airport.
Success at the airport took a tumble when in 1973 the collapse of Court Line had a dramatic effect on passenger numbers. By 1980 however things had improved and seventeen tour operators were flying from Bristol.
1984 saw many improvements at the airport including a new International Departure Lounge with Duty Free Shop and 24 hour airside bar; new check-in desks and scales; conveyorised baggage system; tour operators' desks; flight information system and parking and improved disabled facilities.
In 1987 all employees were transferred from Bristol City council to Bristol Airport plc and the company began trading. Several more improvements were made to the terminal during this time and in 1988 100,000 scheduled passengers passed through the airport.
Record passenger numbers continued and more destinations became available from the airport. During the 1992/1993 period a million passengers passed through the airport, Bristol's best achievement yet.
In 1997 Bristol airport was put up for sale by Bristol City Council and a new terminal was proposed to cope with increasing passenger figures. The airport was relaunched as Bristol International this year and was partly sold to FirstGroup. FirstGroup invested £32 million in the development of Bristol International and the autumn saw the start of the long awaited new £27 million terminal building that was designed to carry 3.5 million passengers.
The New Terminal was opened in March 2000 by HRH the Princess Royal. The old terminal building closed to the public and was converted to offices for many of the staff. 2000 also saw its first direct transatlantic flight in many years operating to Toronto by Royal Airlines.
In January 2001, Macquarie & Cintra acquired the Airport for £198m. Go announced in March that it was to make Bristol International its second UK base.
In February 2002 Bristol International was officially the fastest growing airport in the UK. In August Bristol International celebrated handling 3 million passengers in a 12-month period for the first time, a landmark for the Airport. Passenger numbers continued to rise to 3.8 million in 2003 and many new UK and European routes were introduced.
The Airport could expect to handle some 12m passengers by 2030, requiring a longer runway and a terminal extension.
Information:
Information
Airport NameBristol Airport Airport Code BRS
Bristol International Airport is located 8 miles south of the city centre. The airport began in 1929 when a group of local businessmen bought an area of farmland at Whitchurch, and the airport was later offically opened in 1930 by HRH Prince George. The airport has had a somewhat turbulant history with passenger numbers rising to only fall again, and changing ownership on a number of occassions. However, today the airport is a huge success and in 2002 it was officially the fastest growing airport in the UK. In 2003 passenger numbers reached the highest ever, with a staggering 3.8 million passengers travelling through the airport. By 2030 Bristol Airport could expect a massive 12 million passengers.
Parking:
Airport Guide
Parking
There are two pre-book airport parking options at Bristol airport, for both short and long stays. Choose from either:
Long Term Parking (min stay 6 days)
Silver Car Park (min stay 6 days)
Short Stay
Short stay car parking at Bristol airport is located conveniently on the airport approach road, close to the terminal. There is a courtesy coach which drops you at the terminal entrance.
Business Car Park
Bristol airport's premium car park is the closest to the terminal biulding and Navigator members receive a preferential rate and do not need to pre-book.
Long Stay
The long stay car park at Bristol airport is ideal for holiday parking and longer stays. There are regular courtesy buses running form the carpark to the terminal building. It is advisable and more economical to book longer stay parking in advance.
Destinations
