Bristol International Airport decision delayed

20 November 2009

A DECISION on the £150million expansion of Bristol International Airport (BIA) has been postponed.

North Somerset Council had anticipated reaching a decision on the contested planning proposal at a south area committee meeting next month.

However, due to the complexity of the lengthy application, councillors said they need more time.

A spokesman for the unitary authority said: "This could not be helped due to the length of the application and we are now hopeful a decision will be made by February's meeting."

The news of the delayed result came shortly after BIA's low cost carrier Ryanair announced five new holiday destinations yesterday (Thurs).

The budget airline will start flights to Valencia in Spain, Faro in Portugal, Gdansk in Poland and Treviso and Palma in Italy from February and flights went on sale today (Fri).

A new Boeing 737-800 aircraft will fly the new routes and flights to Malaga and Malta will also increase.

This brings the amount of Ryanair aircraft based at BIA to five.

After a period of decline, passenger numbers at BIA continued to recover in October, returning close to 2008 levels for the second successive month.

A BIA spokesman said: "This recovery is expected to continue for the rest of the year and into 2010, underlining the importance of tackling congestion and enhancing facilities at BIA."

Environmental campaign group Stop Bristol Airport Expansion yesterday issued a report challenging the airports claims that more passengers creates more tourism in the South West.

The group's chairman, Jeremy Birch, compiled the report which compared tourism data for the South West with airport growth figures.

Mr Birch said the findings show that soaring passenger numbers at the airport between 2001-2007 did not result in a boom for local tourism and the industry shrank by 10 per cent.

Mr Birch said: "BIA has claimed huge economic benefits from incoming tourism for its planned expansion but the pattern so far has been in the opposite direction.

"Those hoping for the airport's expansion to boost local tourism should reconsider in light of our findings."

The study also shows that including day trips, 86 per cent of tourism spent in the region is by UK citizens and that most of these arrive by car and almost none by plane.