Bristol Airport - expansion plans, car parking, public transport links - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Bristol Airport rejects calls to add Bath to its name


Some of the West's tourism experts have called on Bristol Airport to change its name

Bristol Airport has rejected calls to boost tourism by including the city of Bath in its name.

Some tourism experts in the West have said the area would benefit more from the American market if the airport included Bath in its title.

They claim it would attract US visitors who are "more familiar" with Bath as a destination.

Airport bosses said Bath was a "key part" of its marketing efforts but "there are no plans" for a name change.

Gwyneth Lloyd, who is originally from Boston and runs a tourism company in Bristol, said Bath was more of a pull for tourists.

"I wasn't really aware of Bristol as a mid-sized city and I'd lived in England before," she added.


Bristol Airport said Bath had a strong international profile but it had no plans to change its name

Ms Lloyd, who has lived in Bedminster for two-years, said: "I didn't become aware of it until a friend of mine drove all around and came back and said 'oh my goodness, Bristol's amazing'."

Martin Poole, from Bristol and Bath Cultural Destinations Partnership Project, said: "I think it's an example, a symbol really, of how the two cities can work together to attract more visitors and tourists to the region."

Mr Poole said the two cities attracted more than 20 million visitors and tourists every year, contributing ^1.5bn to the economy.

In a statement, Bristol Airport said Bath's "strong international profile" was "incredibly important" in attracting visitors to the West of England. It has been promoting both cities and has seen an increase in passengers. "There are no plans to change the name of the airport now or in the foreseeable future," the statement said.

[ChrisB]

Can you fly from the US to Bristol? If not, little point in adding Bath to the name then?...

[JayMac]

Why not follow the lead of other airports and name it after a famous person from the area.

Adge Cutler International?

Fred Wedlock Airport?

[Timmer]

Can you fly from the US to Bristol? If not, little point in adding Bath to the name then?...

Not at present. Continental ran a daily service to/from NY Newark to connect with flights across the U.S. for a couple of years a few years back but it didn't pay its way so was dropped.

[Tim]

Can you fly from the US to Bristol? If not, little point in adding Bath to the name then?...

Not at present. Continental ran a daily service to/from NY Newark to connect with flights across the U.S. for a couple of years a few years back but it didn't pay its way so was dropped.

Air Lingus market themselves as flying to the USA from Bristol.  Of course you have to change planes in Dublin, but given that you can pre-clear US immigration on Irish soil, the inconvenience of having to change is somewhat outweighed by being able to arrive in the US as a domestic passenger and thereby avoid the sometimes horrendous immigration queues some US stations such as ORD have. 

[grahame]

Can you fly from the US to Bristol? If not, little point in adding Bath to the name then?...

Not at present. Continental ran a daily service to/from NY Newark to connect with flights across the U.S. for a couple of years a few years back but it didn't pay its way so was dropped.

Air Lingus market themselves as flying to the USA from Bristol.  Of course you have to change planes in Dublin, but given that you can pre-clear US immigration on Irish soil, the inconvenience of having to change is somewhat outweighed by being able to arrive in the US as a domestic passenger and thereby avoid the sometimes horrendous immigration queues some US stations such as ORD have. 

Also effective to fly Bristol to Rekjavik (Easy Jet) and Rekjavik to USA (IcelandAir).

[chuffed]

First have truncated the Greyhound service that started running between Swansea Cardiff and Bristol airport. The Bristol bit has been dropped from 17th March, so now it is just a shuttle service between Swansea and Cardiff. Perhaps they could call it 'Milgwn' instead....not so many letters to apply !

[grahame]

First have truncated the Greyhound service ...

Greyhounds are excellent sprinters, ideal for short fast runs.   For those who don't have a greyhound, I've posted a video to show this:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153198654402094&set=vb.814747093&type=2&theater

[Chris from Nailsea]

Your greyhound, our Labrador: you'd win. 

Very similar behaviour: our Labrador will chase deer out in the fields around us - by the time she's got to the far side of the field, the deer are three parishes away. 

[Tim]

Can you fly from the US to Bristol? If not, little point in adding Bath to the name then?...

Not at present. Continental ran a daily service to/from NY Newark to connect with flights across the U.S. for a couple of years a few years back but it didn't pay its way so was dropped.

Air Lingus market themselves as flying to the USA from Bristol.  Of course you have to change planes in Dublin, but given that you can pre-clear US immigration on Irish soil, the inconvenience of having to change is somewhat outweighed by being able to arrive in the US as a domestic passenger and thereby avoid the sometimes horrendous immigration queues some US stations such as ORD have. 

Also effective to fly Bristol to Rekjavik (Easy Jet) and Rekjavik to USA (IcelandAir).

That is a higher risk option because you won't get a through ticket and if you miss the connection you are stuffed. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Post:

Major ^24 million expansion plan launched at Bristol Airport

Bristol Airport is to launch one of the biggest expansion schemes in its history.

Within days of completing the expansion of its terminal building bosses have announced that it is to pump another ^24 million into the building.

The western end of the terminal building is to be extended transforming the way passengers pass through the security process.

At the moment there are often queues at peak periods but it is hoped the new facilities will solve the problem at the fast growing airport.

The latest expansion is the biggest building project at the airport since the since the existing terminal building opened for business in 2000.

The work will see state-of-the-art technology introduced in the extended security area to create a faster, more efficient experience.

The 9,000 square metre extension is two and half times larger than the ^8.5 million east terminal extension which has just been completed.

Other improvements will include a bigger baggage reclaim area, bew customs facilities, more shops in the arrivals hall and a meet and greet area.

The work will start in a matter of weeks and is expected to take 12 months to complete.

The improvements will see 10 lanes in the central search area alongside two additional security channels in a dedicated Fast Track zone. The airport is talks with firms to run the brand new facilities.

Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair said: "Once completed, this major development will take the total investment in our terminal and wider airport infrastructure since 2010 to over ^120 million.

"Not only will the west terminal extension ease the congestion we are experiencing at times this summer as a result of high passenger volumes, it will create a more attractive and comfortable environment and help to remove some of the stress sometimes associated with air travel.

"This is going to give us a clear advantage over the competition by making it more attractive for airlines to fly from Bristol, and it is a significant step towards achieving our vision to provide passengers from the South West and Wales with a world-class customer experience when flying in and out of their local airport."

Chris Ware, Head of Security at Bristol Airport, said: "With this development we are responding to changes in security requirements, airline business models and passenger behaviour which have resulted in a greater quantity of hand baggage being carried through our central search area. The west terminal extension enables us to design new layout and processes tailored to meet this challenge but with the flexibility to adapt to evolving security needs without inconveniencing passengers."