If new proposals are approved, the terminal at Bristol Airport could nearly double in size. The airport said recently that it has planned to submit a planning application in March seeking permission to expand the terminal to enable it handle about 10 million passengers by the year 2016. The extension with a glass-front would be located to the east and west of the present terminal. Further developments would be on the north side of the airport site.
New facilities for parking cars would feature spaces for about 3,600 cars. The plans also include establishing an overflow car park on the land to the east of the A38. This land is located under the flight path and would be in use for 13 weeks in a year during the peak season and would remain grassed. There is likelihood that a developer would submit a separate planning application for constructing a new airport hotel. The size and the brand of this hotel are yet to be confirmed.
The aircraft stands at the site would go up by 9, taking the total number of stands to 33. The other proposals for the extension include enhancing the aircraft parking areas connected to the enlarged terminal building by constructing walkways, which will eliminate the use of airside buses for boarding the majority of flights. There will also be an exclusively dedicated zone for passenger pick-up and drop besides a new fuel storage facility and new office accommodation.
