Bristol Airport and First Bus have introduced a major travel improvement to boost sustainability goals for 2030 and help reduce the carbon footprint of customers and Airport staff.

A new fleet of electric A1 and A3 Flyer buses are all now on the road and taking passengers to and from Bristol Airport. With more customers than ever using the Flyer bus services, the new buses will improve air quality by removing tailpipe emissions and help climate change saving more than 1,300CO₂e every year, which is the equivalent of driving a petrol car around the world 194 times.*

Records were broken last year with nearly 1.4 million customers and Bristol Airport staff using the Flyer bus services to and from Bristol and Weston-super-Mare. Improving frequency on the A3 service via Worle, Congresbury and Cleeve achieved a 36% increase in passengers compared to the previous 12 months.

The new buses will give Airport staff and customers a quieter, smoother and fully air-conditioned journey, with the convenience of USB charging points and onboard Wi-Fi.

Rob Sanderson, Head of Commercial at First Bus, said: “This is yet more evidence of our strong partnership with Bristol Airport. It shows our commitment to keep investing as we progress in our strategy to achieve a zero-emission fleet nationally by 2035 while also supporting the Airport’s sustainability ambitions.”

He added: “This latest fleet of zero-emission buses will bring quieter streets and cleaner air to local communities, improving the journey experience for everyone whether travelling locally or heading to and from their getaway trips.

“The Flyer services are proving a big hit and we believe these new electric buses will help us to attract more customers to discover the benefits of using the bus.”

All buses have disabled access, space for wheelchair users and room for guide dogs to sit next to their owners, as well as priority seating for passengers who need it and plenty of space for luggage. There is also real time tracking at bus stops. For those passengers making onward train journeys, more live information for rail connections at Bristol Temple Meads and Worle are available. And through tickets linking up bus and rail journeys can be bought through the GWR app.

Dave Lees, Chief Executive at Bristol Airport said: “We’re thrilled to see the new A1 and A3 electric buses all on the road. This is all part of our commitment to net zero operations by 2030.

“By linking up with GWR we hope planning onward journeys is more seamless. Coupled with a frequent bus service day and night and an even comfier ride, we hope this will encourage even more of our customers to use public transport.

“And with 70% of our workforce living within a 20-mile radius, many can benefit from the free staff travel on the A1, A3 and also A4. We’re the only UK Airport to offer this to employees.”

The A1 is available every eight minutes from 7am – 7pm, and every 30 minutes overnight. During the day the A3 mostly runs every half-an-hour, and at least hourly by night (7pm – 7am).

These improvements to the A1 and A3 represent a continuation of the Airport’s partnership with First Bus for improving access to the Airport by public transport. In addition, there will be improvements to the A4 Airport Flyer service from Bath via Saltford, Keynsham and South Bristol, following First Bus’s recent takeover of this route too.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “The news that the A1 and A3 Flyer buses are now fully electric is another step towards reducing pollution on our roads and making public transport more reliable and sustainable.

“Better buses are a crucial part of getting the West moving, with more than 250 green buses set to serve our region by the end of the year. As we continue building a regional transport network that people can trust, we are working with partners on plans for potential mass transit routes - including connections to Bristol Airport."

And at Bristol Airport more vehicles are switching to electric. The buses that are used around the airfield, as well as those that transport staff and customers between car parks and the terminal, are also on track to achieve electrification. With 65% of the landside bus fleet and ​50% airside buses due to be electric by the end of the year.

All bus services have dedicated bays in the new £60 million Public Transport Interchange that opened in July last year. Tickets for these services can be pre-booked, or customers can simply hop on and pay by card or contactless. There is a transport page on the Airport’s website helping passengers calculate the cost of various modes of transport and the journey times. It’s recommended customers sign up to Rewards emails to receive regular offers on the Flyer, Fast Track and much more.