• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Wednesday November 27 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Bristol Airport reveals expansion plan with flights to USA and an extended runway

Bristol Airport has revealed plans to offer direct long-haul flights to America and the Middle East, and to build a longer runway.

The airport also wants to increase the number of aircraft stands from 38 to 48.

Bristol Airport says the plans would be good for the local economy and create employment – 37,000 jobs regionally, with 1,000 supported directly by the airport.

The airport has launched a two-month public consultation ahead of lodging a planning application with North Somerset Council.

The airport was given permission to expand from nine to 12 million by the courts last year and work is already underway on a new transport hub, which includes a huge new multi-storey car park and expanded capacity for buses and taxis.

Its masterplan to 2040 – published this week – says it wants to serve up to 15 million passengers a year by 2036 – and an increase in aircraft movements from 85,990 to 100,000 per year.

This would require a terminal extension and the lengthening of the runway by 150 metres to accommodate larger transcontinental aeroplanes.

“On a busy day in peak period this would result in 35 extra aircraft movements. While night flying restrictions would remain, the Airport is proposing to increase night flights by 1,000 – on average, four per night on a busy night in the peak period,” said the airport.

The consultation runs until January 25.