Bristol Airport has formally submitted its major expansion plans, triggering a second battle with local residents and environmentalists in just a few years.
Airport bosses have asked North Somerset Council for permission to extend the runway, allow more flights, expand the terminal and increase the maximum number of passengers from the current cap of 12 million a year to 15 million.
Campaigners who fought and lost a long battle against the most recent expansion said the plan was ‘so wrong at every level’ and pledged to fight to stop the project from getting the go-ahead.
Bristol Airport won permission to expand from a maximum nine million passengers and year to 12 million in 2022 after years of planning wrangles and campaigns. The airport has seen huge building works in the past couple of years since, with a transport hub changing the way passengers access the terminal.
The number of passengers that used the airport was still below 11 million last year, but airport bosses say they want to expand again, with the cap raised higher. The airport said this would mean the number of flights in and out would increase from 85,990 currently to 100,000 per year in the longer term to ‘meet demand for air travel’.
“On a busy day in peak period this would result in 35 extra aircraft movements. While night flying restrictions would remain, the Airport is proposing to increase night flights by 1,000 per year – on average, four per night on a busy night in the peak period,” a spokesperson said.
A CGI image of the immigration hall, issued by Bristol Airport as it announces expansion plans, March 2026(Image: Bristol Airport)
The expansion would mean travellators on the walks from the terminal to the planes, and more ‘contact stands’ so passengers can walk straight onto the planes.
The expansion would also a longer runway – right up to the A38 road with, controversially, landing lights moved onto Felton Common, a move which is opposed by its owners, the local parish council.
READ MORE: Protesters out in force to fight Bristol Airport’s bid to expandREAD MORE: ‘Raw anger’ at Bristol Airport plan to ‘steal’ part of unique common
That longer runway would accommodate transatlantic flights, and would mean places in the USA and the Middle East would be regular destinations from Bristol.
“Our proposals deliver what customers have told us they want to see at their local airport,” said Bristol Airport chief executive Dave Lees
“We will open up opportunities to visit places further afield and for businesses to expand into new international markets.
A CGI image of the check-in area, issued by Bristol Airport as it announces expansion plans, March 2026(Image: Bristol Airport)
“This would improve international connectivity to key world cities enhancing trade, supporting high value sectors and improving inward investment, as well as supporting our world-leading universities in their research and innovation endeavours.
“It is also about connecting family and friends – something that’s important for the West of England where 30 per cent of people now have close family members living abroad,” he added.
READ MORE: Bristol Airport transport link part of major mass transit project – but what it would look like remains mysteryREAD MORE: Fury as Bristol Airport reveals plan to expand on to nature reserve next door
The Airport’s previous expansion plans were refused by councillors in North Somerset, and only got the go-ahead after a Government planning inspector approved them on appeal, and a High Court judge ruled against campaigners who took legal action to stop it.
That sequence could well be repeated this time too, as Bristol Airport Action Network – a coalition of community groups of local residents and parish councils around the airport, combined with Bristol-based environmental campaigners – have pledged to fight this new plan.
A CGI image of a boarding gate, issued by Bristol Airport as it announces expansion plans, March 2026(Image: Bristol Airport)
“We said it before the last expansion, and we will say it again; Bristol Airport is simply big enough,” said BAAN’s Stephen Clarke. “Last time over 84% of residents who responded to their expansion plans objected; this time the planned expansion is likely to be unpopular because of the land-grab of Felton Common.
“We call on the local councillors on North Somerset Council’s Planning Committee to listen to those they represent and reject these plans,” he added.