Bristol airport History

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In 1929 the decision was made for Bristol Airport to be constructed. This decision was made by a group of businessmen that had, two years earlier, raised £6000 to build a new airfield named Filton Aerodrome.

The official opening of Bristol Airport was in 1930 by Prince George and in 1939 Bristol Airport dealt with 4000 passengers. Like most other airports at this time the outbreak of the Second World War meant that the RAF requisitioned the airfield for military purposes.

After the war the future of Bristol Airport appeared gloomy. However in 1955 Bristol managed to win a 10 year challenge for an airport at Lulsgate, and it was purchased by the Bristol Corporation for £55,000. The new Bristol Airport was opened in 1957 by the Duchess of Kent and in its first year dealt with 33,000 passengers.

Bristol Airport went from strength to strength until 1974 when Court Line ceased trading and passenger numbers took a sharp downturn. However due to the airports other investments things improved and by 1980 there were a confirmed 17 tour operators utlising the airport.

Investment was made in the airport facilities in 1984 with the addition of a new departure lounge, check-in desks and various other essential pieces of equipment and facilities. Disabled facilities were also increased which were seen as of growing importance.

In 1987 Bristol Airport was further improved by work taking place on the terminal building, and the following year (1988) saw 100,000 passengers use the airport. As Bristol Airport continued to expand its portfolio of destinations the passenger numbers grew to match it, and in 1993 Bristol Airport boasted 1 million passengers passing through it.

In 1997 Bristol Airport was sold to FirstGroup who invested £27m in airport upgrades including the launch of a brand new terminal building. This terminal was officially opened in 2000 by The Princess Royal. The introduction of the new terminal also coincided with Bristol Airports first transatlantic flight for many years which flew to Toronto.

Bristol Airport was again sold in 2001 to Macquaire & Cintra for £198m and in the March of that year the important announcement was made that the airline Go was making Bristol its second UK base. Over the next year Bristol Airport continued to increase the quantity of traffic flowing through it, and was recognised in 2002 as the UK' s fastest growing airport. In 2003 many new routes began to fly from Bristol Airport.

In 2004 Bristol Airport was awarded the National Parking Security Award for the security of their car parking - the only airport in the Midlands, Wales and South West England to achieve this.