The A1 Airport Flyer is the direct bus between Bristol Airport and Bristol city centre. It costs £9.50 for an adult single (£16 return), runs up to every 8 minutes around the clock, and takes about 35 minutes to Bristol Bus Station. Checked 2026.
A1 Flyer fares at a glance
| Ticket | Single | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £9.50 | £16.00 |
| Child | £6.50 | £9.50 |
| Student | £7.50 | £10.50 |
| Group (up to 5) | - | £32.00 |
These are the fares for the A1 Bristol route and the A4 Bath route, which share the same pricing table. The A2 Portishead and A3 Weston-super-Mare Flyers are cheaper, at £5 single and £7 return for an adult.
Route and stops
The A1 runs Bristol Bus Station – Bristol city centre (The Centre) – Bristol Temple Meads Station – Bedminster – Bristol Airport, calling at the airport's Public Transport Interchange next to the terminal building. It is a limited-stop express service, not a normal city bus, so it skips most stops in between.
Official First Bus timetables show journey times of roughly 34 to 39 minutes from Bristol Bus Station to the airport depending on time of day, and around 26 to 30 minutes from Temple Meads. Build in the longer end of that range if you are cutting it fine for a flight, since traffic through Bedminster varies at peak times.
How often does it run
The A1 is a 24-hour, 7-day service (it does not run on Christmas Day), with buses up to every 8 minutes at peak times in the city and roughly every 15 to 30 minutes overnight. Because it runs all night, it is one of the few practical public transport options for very early or very late flights, alongside the night bus.
How to buy a ticket
You do not need to book ahead. Options are:
- Pay on board with contactless card, Apple Pay or Google Pay using tap on, tap off (you tap when you board and tap again when you leave, and the system charges the correct single or day-return fare automatically).
- Buy in advance on the Bristol Airport or First Bus website, or through the First Bus mTicket app, which can be cheaper if you book ahead and sign up for their Rewards scheme.
- Buy on the day at the airport's ticket machines or a manned kiosk in the Interchange.
If you buy a return ticket, it must be used within 30 days of the outbound journey (the official Flyer FAQ page states return travel must fall within one calendar month). Seats are not reservable; it is first-come, first-served, though with buses this frequent that rarely matters outside of major event days.
A useful extra: free onward bus travel
Tap on, tap off adult single and day return fares include a transfer perk: any connecting First West of England bus journey you start within 3 hours before or after your Flyer trip is free. That is worth knowing if your final destination in Bristol is a short bus ride from Temple Meads or the city centre rather than directly on the Flyer route.
A1 Flyer versus a taxi
| Option | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Flyer bus | £9.50 single | About 35 minutes | Solo travellers, light luggage, budget trips |
| Taxi or private hire | Fare agreed at booking | 20 to 30 minutes | Groups, heavy luggage, door-to-door, late-night arrivals off-route |
The Flyer is the cheapest way into Bristol and often the fastest at peak times, since it uses bus lanes on parts of the route. A taxi wins if you are travelling with a group (splitting a fare can undercut several bus tickets), have heavy luggage, or need door-to-door delivery beyond a Flyer stop. See the taxis page for how the rank works, or how to book a taxi to Bristol Airport if you want to pre-arrange one.
Getting to Bath, Weston-super-Mare or Portishead instead
The same Interchange serves three other Flyer routes if the city centre is not your destination:
- A4 to Bath, via Saltford and Keynsham, same fares as the A1.
- A3 to Weston-super-Mare, via Worle, up to every 30 minutes, £5 single.
- A2 to Portishead, via Clevedon and Nailsea, up to every hour, £5 single.
For a full breakdown of the Bath route specifically, see Bristol Airport to Bath, and for Weston-super-Mare see Bristol Airport to Weston-super-Mare.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bristol Airport Flyer bus? The A1 to Bristol city centre costs £9.50 for an adult single or £16 return. Children are £6.50 single, and a group of up to 5 people can travel on a £32 return.
How long does the Flyer bus take from Bristol Airport? Around 35 minutes to Bristol Bus Station, based on the official timetable, or about 26 to 30 minutes to Temple Meads Station, which is closer to the airport on the route.
How often does the A1 Flyer run? Up to every 8 minutes at peak times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except Christmas Day.
Do I need to book the Flyer bus in advance? No. You can buy on board with contactless payment, tap on and tap off, or buy ahead online or through the First Bus app for a possible discount.
Is the Flyer or a taxi cheaper to get into Bristol? For one or two people the Flyer at £9.50 a head is cheaper than a taxi. For a group of three or more with luggage, a shared taxi fare can work out similar or better value, plus it goes door to door.
Does the Flyer run at night? Yes, it is a 24-hour service, making it one of the few public transport options for very early morning or late-night flights.
More: Overview, Public transport, Taxis, Routes, FAQs.