Bristol Airport prepares for a busy Easter Weekend

Bristol Airport is preparing for another busy Easter weekend with 150,000 customers passing through the terminal to meet family and friends or enjoy a spring break. The Airport will also see visitors coming into the country to explore the South West and South Wales as well as return from a break away, with the busiest flights arriving from Poland, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Customers will also be using their local Airport for domestic flights to catch up with relatives in the UK for the long weekend, with flights to Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow among the favourites. Other popular UK destinations include Belfast and Newcastle.

Some skiers and snowboarders are still hoping to catch the end of the season with flights to Geneva, Innsbruck and Verona looking busy. The other top choices are the warmer destinations with customers hoping to soak up the sun in top hotspots - Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Faro and Tenerife. Amsterdam is also a favourite this Easter due to its worldwide connections and short flight time.

Over the three-week period from when schools in Wales break up on Friday 27 March – Sunday 19 April, the Airport expects to see around 725,000 passengers pass through its doors. Those travelling with Easter eggs are advised to keep any chocolate treats in cabin baggage and make sure they are easily accessible as they may need to be opened for a quick check.

At the end of last year, the Airport began work on the next phase of its £400 million transformation with new shops, restaurants and facilities planned. The Departure Lounge will see more than a £60 million investment, so customers may notice some changes when they are arriving and departing as part of the Airports biggest upgrades so far.

The new look Departure Lounge will be more spacious and have almost double the number of shops and restaurants, including some premium retail brands and dining options as well as a hidden speakeasy bar. There will also be space for island retail units and more seating, designed with comfort in mind.

Image - Bristol Airport

The assisted travel lounge will also be double the size and include tables, so that customers are able to sit, eat and work comfortably. It will be located in the heart of the Departure Lounge and include accessible toilets and changing places facility which is a much larger washroom with equipment including a hoist, height adjustable changing bench suitable for adults, grab rails, shower and curtain, with plenty of room for carers and wheel chair users. As part of the transformation there will also be a baby feeding room and more washrooms.

The arrivals hall is also benefitting from new domestic arrivals reclaim area with an additional baggage carousel. Capacity will increase by 20%. Accessibility in immigration will also be improved with new lifts and stairs.

As part of the terminal transformation plan, next generation security was installed last year. Since then, the average queue time for the first flights of the morning is 13 minutes.

Bristol Airport has shared the following tips so customers can prepare and enjoy a smoother journey:

- Items up to 2 litres can now be carried through in hand luggage along with all electronics (laptops, tablets and mobile phones) which should remain inside bags while passing through security screening. It is recommended you check before flying back, as the liquid limit still varies from airport to airport.

- Empty pockets and place loose items in hand luggage, with metal water bottles emptied before entering security (water fountains can be found opposite world duty free as well as in the Public Transport Interchange and outside arrivals).

- Coats, hats and belts should be placed in the tray provided with a hand luggage bag on top. Customers may still be asked to take off shoes.

- Travel with only essential items in your hand baggage and pushchairs to enable easy transit through security.

- Pushchairs and car seats that have not been checked in, along with wheelchairs and walking aids will be searched, so customers should allow more time for this.

- Customers travelling with a medical condition or disability including hidden disabilities should mention this to a member of staff just before screening. They can request a private search if this makes them feel more comfortable.

- Children who are 1 metre tall and above will need to use the security scanner. If they are unable to hold the position required or are under 1 metre tall, then they will be hand searched.

For further information please check the security section at the Airport on the website.