WESTlink is the West of England's on-demand minibus service, and Bristol Airport sits inside its own "Airport shared" zone. Book a trip through the WESTlink app, website or by phone, and fares run from £2.60 to £3 for most local journeys, though onward travel to zones like Nailsea, Backwell or Wrington is limited to weekdays between 09:00 and 14:00.
What is WESTlink?
WESTlink is a shared, app-booked minibus service run for the West of England Combined Authority, replacing fixed bus routes in areas where a regular timetabled service isn't viable. Instead of a set route and timetable, you request a pick-up and drop-off within a defined zone, and a minibus is routed to collect you, often sharing the vehicle with other passengers heading the same way.
Bristol Airport falls within the "Airport shared" zone, which also covers nearby villages such as Blagdon, Burrington, Butcombe and Langford.
How to book WESTlink to or from Bristol Airport
- App: download the WESTlink app and request a pick-up or drop-off at Bristol Airport
- Website: book through the WESTlink section of the travelwest.info site
- Phone: call to book if you don't want to use the app
Book as far ahead as you can, since availability depends on other passengers' bookings and vehicle routing, and it isn't a guaranteed instant pick-up in the way a taxi is.
What does WESTlink to Bristol Airport cost?
- Within the Airport shared zone, or to the West of England zone: £2.60 for a 0 to 4 mile journey, £3 for a 4 to 8 mile journey, for adults; children aged 5 and under travel free
- To Nailsea, Backwell, Long Ashton, Wrington, or the Yatton shared zone: £3 per trip for adults and children, but only available Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 14:00; there's no service to these zones on weekends or public holidays
- Distance cap: journeys starting or ending in the Airport shared zone are capped at 8 miles if travelling within the zone, or 5 miles for cross-zone trips to Nailsea, Backwell, Wrington or Yatton
AvonRider tickets are valid on WESTlink and most other local bus services in the area, which is useful if you're combining a WESTlink trip with onward travel.
Going further afield
WESTlink is designed for shorter, local trips, not long-distance journeys. For anywhere beyond its zones, change onto a standard bus or train at a connection point. From Bristol Airport, useful places to change include the A38 bus stops for Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare, and Backwell for Bristol, Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare.
If your journey is a single hop into central Bristol or Bristol Temple Meads, the A1 Airport Flyer is usually a simpler and more direct choice than WESTlink. See our guide to getting from Bristol Airport to Temple Meads for that route.
Is WESTlink right for your journey?
WESTlink suits travellers heading to or from one of the villages around the airport that don't have a direct Flyer bus service, especially if you're travelling at a time when the weekday connecting-zone service runs. It isn't the right choice if you need a guaranteed departure time for a flight, since shared, on-demand routing means your pick-up window can shift. For a time-critical airport journey, a pre-booked taxi or one of the fixed Flyer bus routes is more predictable.
Frequently asked questions
What is WESTlink at Bristol Airport?
An app-booked, shared, on-demand minibus service covering Bristol Airport and surrounding villages, run for the West of England Combined Authority in place of a fixed bus route.
How do I book WESTlink to Bristol Airport?
Through the WESTlink app, the travelwest.info website, or by phone. Book ahead where you can, since it's a shared, routed service rather than an instant pick-up.
How much does WESTlink cost from Bristol Airport?
£2.60 for a 0 to 4 mile trip or £3 for a 4 to 8 mile trip within the local zones; £3 per trip to Nailsea, Backwell, Long Ashton, Wrington or Yatton, weekdays 09:00 to 14:00 only.
Does WESTlink run to Bristol Airport at weekends?
Within the Airport shared zone, yes. Onward journeys to Nailsea, Backwell, Long Ashton, Wrington or the Yatton shared zone only run Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 14:00.
Is WESTlink reliable enough for catching a flight?
It's better suited to journeys without a fixed deadline. For a flight, a pre-booked taxi or a timetabled Flyer bus service gives you more certainty over your arrival time.
Can I use my AvonRider ticket on WESTlink?
Yes, AvonRider tickets are valid on WESTlink as well as most other local bus services in the area.
Checked 2026. Zone boundaries, fares and operating hours are as published by travelwest.info; always check the WESTlink app for live availability before you travel, since routing and timings depend on other bookings.