General Atomics

Bristol Airport reports record year

Bristol Airport has reported another successful year that has seen record passenger numbers, new routes and the announcement of growth plans that would provide connections to North America and the Middle East.



Image courtesy Bristol Airport

In 2024 more than 10 million passengers used Bristol Airport, which is around a 7% increase compared to 2023, making it one of the fastest growing airports in the UK since the pandemic.

The Airport has seen an increase in trips to European cities for weekend breaks and business – in particular, there has been exceptional demand for routes to Amsterdam and Paris. Tourists arriving in the country from Europe to spend time in the South West and South Wales has also been buoyant.

Passengers are benefiting from new routes with Istanbul, Tromso and Agadir added to the wide range of destinations available. Bristol Airport has also announced additional routes for this year, including Almeria in Spain and Sicily’s capital Palermo.

As Bristol Airport looks to the future, it has been consulting on a Masterplan to 2040 setting out growth plans that would see new connections to North America and the Middle East.

Dave Lees, Chief Executive Officer, said: “It’s great to see so many more passengers from the South West and South Wales choosing to use Bristol Airport, with much interest in the new destinations we have on offer.

“Our master plan sets out how we would meet the strong and growing demand of people in the region using the Airport and the improvements we intend to make to further enhance the customer experience.

“The future development proposals are forecast to support more than 37,000 jobs in the South West and South Wales – including an additional 1,000 jobs at the Airport.”

An additional Airbus A320 family aircraft will join easyJet’s Bristol fleet from June 2025, meaning the airline will now base 19 easyJet aircraft at Bristol, enabling the airline to provide greater choice and connectivity for customers in the southwest.

Meanwhile, there are more quieter and efficient aircraft than ever based at the Airport with over a third of commercial air traffic movements now being made by the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

It has also been a successful year for the Bristol Airport’s public transport offering, with a record number of people using buses to access the airport last year. The Airport Flyer connecting Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, saw 1.3 million passenger journeys, while new connections were put in place for those living in the South West, South Wales and Gloucestershire.

Related

RAF Mildenhall hosts Trump’s ‘bridge’ Air Force One during unusual aircraft swap 
Air Force One bridge aircraft at RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall hosts Trump’s ‘bridge’ Air Force One during unusual aircraft swap 
The bridge aircraft was welcomed by troops stationed at the British base, before the older VC-25A arrived and Trump swapped aircraft.
Aerospace Most Read

9 Jul 2026

ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
Aerospace engineer GE UK
ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
ADS says the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors remain resilient, but rising costs, finance pressures and supply chain constraints mean government commitments must now translate into action.
Venetz Aerospace secures UK CAA design approval for electric propulsion
Venetz Aerospace
Venetz Aerospace secures UK CAA design approval for electric propulsion
Venetz Aerospace has received UK CAA Part 21 Design Organisation Approval for electric motors and propellers for uncrewed and crewed aircraft applications.
Aerospace Defence

8 Jul 2026

Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy takes shape as drone boat is airdropped from A400M
Airdrop of Royal Navy drone from Airbus A400M with parachute
Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy takes shape as drone boat is airdropped from A400M
Why the Royal Navy's parachute drop of K3 Scout sea-going drone is an important step onto its part to become a hybrid navy.
Defence

9 Jul 2026

ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
Aerospace engineer GE UK
ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
ADS says the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors remain resilient, but rising costs, finance pressures and supply chain constraints mean government commitments must now translate into action.
RAF SAF spending should build fuel resilience, not just meet mandates
Andrew Symes outside OX1
RAF SAF spending should build fuel resilience, not just meet mandates
As the RAF faces rising SAF and Power-to-Liquid fuel costs, Andrew Symes says defence fuel spending should support domestic capability, supply resilience and UK energy security.
Defence Insights

9 Jul 2026

ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
Aerospace engineer GE UK
ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
ADS says the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors remain resilient, but rising costs, finance pressures and supply chain constraints mean government commitments must now translate into action.
CRP Group launches UniqTrust for additive manufacturing traceability
CRP Group has launched CRP UniqTrust, a digital identity system designed to improve traceability and authentication for components made using its Windform composites.
CRP Group launches UniqTrust for additive manufacturing traceability
CRP Group has launched CRP UniqTrust, a digital identity system designed to improve traceability and authentication for components made using its Windform composites.
Airbus UK to build Aeolus-2 weather satellite for Europe’s next forecasting leap
Aeolus 2 by Airbus UK
Airbus UK to build Aeolus-2 weather satellite for Europe’s next forecasting leap
Airbus Defence and Space UK has been authorised to begin building Aeolus-2, a next-generation ESA and EUMETSAT weather satellite designed to deliver global wind measurements for more accurate forecasting, aviation operations and climate monitoring.
Space

6 Jul 2026

ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
Aerospace engineer GE UK
ADS sectors add £46.8bn to UK economy but industry warns delivery must follow
ADS says the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors remain resilient, but rising costs, finance pressures and supply chain constraints mean government commitments must now translate into action.
CRP Group launches UniqTrust for additive manufacturing traceability
CRP Group has launched CRP UniqTrust, a digital identity system designed to improve traceability and authentication for components made using its Windform composites.
CRP Group launches UniqTrust for additive manufacturing traceability
CRP Group has launched CRP UniqTrust, a digital identity system designed to improve traceability and authentication for components made using its Windform composites.
Logiq launches DISX Isolate for high-assurance defence operations
Logiq launches DISX Isolate for secure defence operations
Logiq launches DISX Isolate for high-assurance defence operations
Logiq has launched DISX Isolate, a standalone secure workspace designed for organisations handling sensitive information in deliberately disconnected environments.