Bristol Airport announces changes to fees for ‘Drop Off & Pick Up’ and ‘Short Stay’ Car Parks

Changes to the tariffs for the ‘Drop Off & Pick Up’ and ‘Short Stay’ car parks at Bristol Airport will be introduced on Monday 5 January 2026.

The cost of using the ‘Drop Off & Pick Up’ car park, which is the quickest option for terminal access will increase from £7 to £8.50 for a 10-minute stay. While the ‘Short Stay’ car park, located within a short walking distance of the terminal, will increase from £7 to £8.50, for 15 minutes and £9 to £10.50 for 15-30 minutes. The price is also changing in the Minibus and Over Height car park (vehicles up to 16 seats and over 2.5m high) from £7 to £8.50 for five minutes and from £9 to £10.50 for 5–20 minutes.

Image: Bristol Airport 

The change in fees follows the recent budget delivered by the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, which will result in the Airport’s business rates bill more than doubling to become the Airport’s single biggest non-operational cost. Unfortunately, like other airports, some of the cost will be passed on to consumers.

Bristol Airport said it was not a decision it took lightly, but needed to balance protecting people’s jobs as well as its commitment to improving the customer journey through new developments while advancing its decarbonisation plans to achieve net zero operations by 2030. It hoped the increased price would help discourage high volumes of customers choosing to drop off and pick up, and instead encourage greater use of more sustainable transport options, including public transport.

Customers have a choice of using a free option at the waiting zone for up to one hour to pick up or drop off. This includes a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes to the terminal from the adjacent car rental facility, with full details available on the Airports website. The Airport will shortly be doubling the capacity of the waiting area.

The Airport has invested £60 million in a Public Transport Interchange facility, which opened in July 2025, and has invested in a fleet of 21 new electric buses that will be rolled out jn the New Year, transforming the A1 Bristol and A3 Weston-super-Mare Airport Flyer services.

The A1 is available every eight minutes from 7am – 7pm, and every 30 minutes overnight. The A3 has increased its services by more than 60% during the day, mostly running every half-an-hour, and at least hourly by night (7pm – 7am). Special rate group ticket prices will also be introduced in 2026 for both the A1 and A3.

Additionally, there will be a new public transport service connecting to towns and villages in North Somerset including Nailsea and Backwell, which are currently not accessible from the Airport by public transport. The Airport is also welcoming a new daily coach route to and from Plymouth starting on Monday 12 January.

‘Drop Off & Pick Up’ is the highest generator of car traffic, resulting in four journeys for those dropping off and picking up, rather than two, compared to customers who use public transport or other car parks. Part of the Airport's surface access strategy is a focus on increasing the number of customers using public transport and reducing emissions caused by transport to and from the Airport.

Customers have a choice of other options including:

• For longer stays, there are options to park in the Silver Zone car park, which provides a courtesy bus transfer to the Public Transport Interchange. There is also a meet and greet service, multi-storey car park and short stay car parking. All of the Airport’s car parks have CCTV and are manned/patrolled 24/7 and should be booked through the Airport’s website.
• There are numerous bus service options that arrive and depart from the Public Transport Interchange, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the terminal. These include regular services between the Airport and Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Bath, as well as connections to and from the South West, South Wales, Gloucestershire and Birmingham.

Customers who are dropping off family and friends, who have a Blue Badge, will continue to be able to use the ‘Drop Off & Pick Up’ car park for an extended stay of 40 minutes, but that will also increase from £7 to for £8.50. Blue badges should continue to be scanned at the exit barrier.

Bristol Airport customers are reminded to book in advance for the best car parking rates and to sign up to the Airport’s Rewards email, which offers discounted parking and special deals on the A1 and A3 Flyer bus services.