BRISTOL AIRPORT BUCKS TREND AS PASSENGER NUMBERS GROW

Passenger numbers at Bristol Airport rose in 2010, with volumes up 1.8 per cent compared to 2009. Bristol was one of only two of the UK’s top 10 airports to grow in 2010. The number of people travelling through the South West’s busiest terminal increased despite the significant disruption to European air travel caused by snow, volcanic ash and air traffic control strikes. A total of 5.7 million passengers used Bristol Airport over the course of the year, a figure which would have been approximately 150,000 higher had it not been for these exceptional events. Scheduled international routes were the strongest performers, showing a 3.7 per cent increase over the previous twelve months. Civil Aviation Authority figures show passengers numbers were down across all UK airports by an average of 3.5 per cent. The rise in passengers at Bristol Airport was achieved with fewer flights, with the total number of aircraft movements down by 1.5 per cent, a decrease of more than 1,000. Shaun Browne, Aviation Director at Bristol Airport, said: “These results demonstrate the continued demand for international air travel to and from the South West. 2010 was a challenging year for aviation, but the region’s leading airport has retained a strong route network which serves hundreds of destinations across the world direct or via major hubs such as Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris Charles de Gaulle.” This connectivity is set to further improve in March when KLM commences a fourth daily service to Amsterdam, and Aer Lingus begins flying three times a day to Dublin. Both services offer convenient onward connections across the Atlantic. Ends For further information please contact: James Gore, Bristol Airport, 01275 475447 / 07717 896315 Jacqui Mills, Bristol Airport, 01275 473615 / 07712 792915