Direct answer
The A1 Airport Flyer bus runs between Bristol Airport and Bristol city centre 24 hours a day, with services as frequent as every 8 minutes at peak times. An adult single is £9.50 and a return is £16, and the journey takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. Prices checked 2026.
The A1 Airport Flyer route into the city
The A1 Flyer is Bristol Airport's dedicated express coach service and the only public transport option that runs directly to the city centre, since the airport has no railway station of its own. It's operated under contract to Bristol Airport and run in practice by First Bus, with buses fitted with free on-board wifi.
Board at the Public Transport Interchange, next to the terminal building, at stands 4 or 5. Heading into Bristol, the coach calls at:
- Bristol Airport (Public Transport Interchange)
- Winford Grove and intermediate stops through Bishopsworth and Parson Street
- Bedminster Parade
- Redcliff Hill and Redcliffe Way
- Temple Meads Station
- Queen Square
- The Centre
- Bristol Bus Station (Marlborough Street), the final stop
Which stop to use depends on where you're headed:
- Cabot Circus, Broadmead and the shopping district — get off at Bristol Bus Station, which sits a short walk from Cabot Circus and The Galleries.
- Harbourside, M Shed, SS Great Britain and the museums — The Centre or Queen Square are the closest stops, both a few minutes' walk from the harbourside.
- Onward rail travel — Temple Meads is served directly, so there's no need to backtrack into the centre first if you're catching a train. See this site's dedicated guide to reaching Temple Meads if that's your main destination.
Going the other way, towards the airport, buses only pick up between Bristol Bus Station and Bedminster Parade and only drop off between Bedminster Parade and the airport, so build that into your journey planning if you're catching the coach from a stop in between.
Fares
| Ticket | Single | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16+) | £9.50 | £16.00 |
| Child (5-15) | £6.50 | £9.50 |
| Student (with photo ID) | £7.50 | £10.50 |
| Group (up to 5 passengers, any age) | - | £32.00 |
Children aged 0 to 4, travelling with an accompanying adult, ride free. Return tickets are valid for one month from purchase, so a return bought on the outbound leg still works if your trip runs longer than expected.
You can buy a ticket:
- Online in advance through the Airport Flyer website
- From the driver when you board, by card or contactless
- Via the First Bus app
- At the rail ticket machine on the Arrivals concourse, which also sells combined train and Flyer tickets
- Through thetrainline.com if you're booking an onward rail journey at the same time
The service runs every day of the year except Christmas Day, with amended timings over the festive period.
A1 Flyer vs taxi vs Uber and Bolt into the city centre
| Option | Typical cost | Typical time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Airport Flyer (adult single) | £9.50 | 30-40 minutes | Solo travellers and pairs with light luggage, budget trips |
| Taxi from the official rank | Around £35-£55 (roughly £56.55 for a saloon on the day) | Around 20 minutes | Groups, heavy luggage, late-night arrivals |
| Pre-booked local taxi firm | From around £51 for a saloon | Around 20 minutes | Booking ahead for a fixed price without the airport concession fee |
| Uber / Bolt | Varies with demand | Around 20 minutes | Door-to-door pickup, no rank queue |
For up-to-date detail on the taxi and ride-hailing side of that comparison, see this site's guides to taxi prices from Bristol Airport and taxi options. If you're deciding purely on cost for a short solo hop, the Flyer is consistently the cheapest option into the centre; a taxi earns its higher price back mainly in door-to-door convenience and time, since it's roughly 8 miles and about 20 minutes versus the coach's longer, multi-stop route.
Other Flyer routes from the airport
The same Airport Flyer brand also runs three other routes, in case your final destination isn't the city centre itself:
- A2 to Portishead, via Clevedon, Nailsea and Backwell, up to hourly, 24 hours a day. Adult single £5, return £7.
- A3 to Weston-super-Mare, via Worle, Congresbury and Cleeve, with departures up to every 30 minutes at peak times. Adult single £5, return £7.
- A4 to Bath, via South Bristol, Keynsham and Saltford, running hourly. Adult single £9.50, return £16.
All four routes start and end at the airport's Public Transport Interchange.
Practical tips
- Luggage: There's no formal luggage limit published for the Flyer, but it's a standard coach with underfloor storage, so it comfortably handles typical airport suitcases. If you're travelling with an unusually large amount of luggage, a taxi will generally be less hassle.
- Night and early-morning flights: Because the A1 runs 24 hours a day, it's a genuine option for early departures or late arrivals when some other local transport has stopped. Frequency does drop off overnight, so check the timetable for actual departure times rather than assuming the "every 8 minutes" peak frequency applies.
- Concessionary bus passes: English national concessionary bus passes are not accepted for free travel to or from the airport on the Flyer, even though they work on the wider First Bus network elsewhere on the route.
- Connecting from local buses: If you've bought a Flyer ticket, you can also use it to connect on any First Bus service within the Bristol Zone or Weston Zone at no extra cost, and vice versa for a return journey.
FAQs
Is there a train station at Bristol Airport?
No. Bristol Airport has no railway station on site. The A1 Airport Flyer coach is the way to reach the rail network, calling directly at Bristol Temple Meads before continuing to Bristol Bus Station.
How often does the A1 Flyer run?
Up to every 8 minutes at peak times, and it operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day.
How much luggage can I take on the A1 Flyer?
There's no published passenger limit; it's a standard coach with luggage storage suitable for normal airport baggage. If you have several large cases per person, weigh up the convenience of a taxi instead.
Can I use my return ticket weeks later?
Yes. Return tickets on the A1 Flyer are valid for one month from the date of purchase.
Is the A1 Flyer cheaper than a taxi?
Yes, for one or two people it's substantially cheaper — from £9.50 versus roughly £35-£55 for a taxi. A taxi becomes more cost-competitive per person for larger groups, since the fare is generally per vehicle rather than per passenger.
Where do I catch the A1 Flyer at the airport?
At the Public Transport Interchange next to the terminal building, using stands 4 or 5.