AIRPORT PREPARES FOR FESTIVAL INFLUX FROM ACROSS THE WORLD

‘Wellie-washer’ installed in terminal in case of Glastonbury mud

Bristol International Airport is preparing for an influx of passengers en route to the Glastonbury Festival. Plans have been put in place to provide easy connections to road or rail links to the site – and contingencies have even been made to keep the terminal clean of the infamous Glastonbury mud should weather conditions worsen! The airport is a transport hub for the Festival, which attracts 175,000 people from across the world, and Bristol International’s Flyer bus service (which links the airport to Bristol Temple Meads railway station and onward services to Castle Cary) has received online bookings from customers in 48 different countries in recent months. In addition, National Express is operating a direct service from the airport to the Festival site for the first time. Services will run every four hours, running until Monday 29th June. In case of bad weather, steps have been taken to help returning festival-goers clean up before boarding flights home. A special ‘wellie washer’ situated outside the entrance to the terminal will enable passengers to remove the Festival’s infamous mud from boots and shoes before continuing their onward journey. Alison Roberts, General Manager of the terminal at Bristol International Airport, said: “The week of Glastonbury is always a busy but enjoyable one. While we hope the sun shines this time, we have learned from previous years to be prepared for an influx of muddy passengers following the Festival. If it does rain, the wellie washer will help keep them and the airport clean!” “Bristol International takes its responsibility as the point of arrival for many visitors to the South West very seriously and we will be making music fans and performers welcome as they fly in over the next few days.” Glastonbury is just one of several popular events in the South West and Wales boosting the number of inbound passengers using Bristol International. Thousands of people arrived by air to visit the Cheltenham Festival in March, and next year’s Ryder Cup golf at Celtic Manor in Newport is expected to generate additional inbound traffic to the airport. In addition, Bristol International is an increasingly popular gateway for visitors heading for iconic tourist destinations such as Stonehenge, the Cotswolds and Bath – as well as Bristol itself. Travel by foreign residents using Bristol International has increased 161 per cent over the last five years, with each overseas visitor using the airport currently worth £410 to the South West economy. The airport’s proposed development plans will result in £1.1 billion of additional visitor spending in the region by 2019/20. Ends For further information please contact: James Gore, Bristol International Airport 01275 475447 / 07717 896315