News / Bristol airport
Bristol Airport could increase passenger numbers again
Bristol Airport is planning to further increase its passenger numbers as well as possibly extending its runway.
Bristol24/7 understands that the airport is hoping to increase passenger numbers to 15m people per annum less than two years after the High Court approved previous plans for passengers to jump from 10m to 12m annually.
The plans have been called “highly irresponsible” by a councillor, with local residents and campaign groups gearing up for another battle against the airport owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
is needed now More than ever
Although they have yet to share specific details, Bristol Airport have confirmed that a consultation will be launched before the end of 2024.
They say that this “will look at expected passenger growth beyond the current allowance of 12m passengers per annum”.
Airport expansion protesters will be reconvening for the next battle – photo: Chris Head
A Bristol Airport spokesperson said: “We are working on an Airport masterplan to 2040 setting out future infrastructure development to meet the strong and growing demand of people in our region using Bristol Airport.
“As part of the masterplan process, we will launch a public consultation towards the end of the year, so people can help shape our plans.
“There are now more than 10m passengers a year using Bristol Airport, providing over 5,000 local jobs and contributing £2bn to the regional economy every year.
“Our masterplan to 2040 will look at expected passenger growth beyond the current allowance of 12m passengers per annum.
“We’re continuously investing in improvements to meet current demand, with our new multimillion pound public transport interchange currently under construction.
“We are also working towards our net zero operations 2030 target and committed to working with partners on aviation decarbonisation.
“The masterplan will look at what further development might be required to meet the growing demand for air travel and we’d welcome input from people when public consultation starts later this year.”
Work is currently underway on Bristol Airport’s new £60m ‘public transport interchange hub’ – image: Bristol Airport
Thomas Daw, a Green Party councillor for Wrington, said: “I think it’s highly irresponsible to expand at this time.
“The airport is growing at an unsustainable rate with work only just starting on the second car park…
“We do not have the capacity on our roads to accommodate three million more passengers. A 25 per cent increase will be devastating to our, already crumbling infrastructure.
“I will be fighting against this very hard; it’s what I was elected to do.
“More importantly, I’m standing up for my future. I cannot let big companies to continue to put profit over life.”
Daw added: “The environmental effects of this will be criminal.
“I think anyone who reads this should take another watch of what happened in Spain last week and know we are not safe from that.
“This is a fight for our future now.”
Main photo: Bristol Airport
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