Latest updates
No compensation for Monday's NATS fault as airlines demand accountability after second failure in a fortnight
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ruled that Monday's air traffic control failure, which caused cancellations and delays at Bristol Airport, counts as an "extraordinary cir
Bristol Airport names Charley Maher as new chief executive
Bristol Airport has confirmed Charley Maher as its incoming chief executive, taking over from Dave Lees who is stepping down at the end of the year after leading the airport since
Bristol Airport flights delayed and cancelled after second NATS air traffic control fault in two weeks
Bristol Airport passengers faced delays and cancellations on the morning of Monday 21 September after National Air Traffic Services (NATS) reported a fresh technical fault at its P
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Mon 21 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently experiencing no disruptions to morning departures between now and the next few hours, with all 20 scheduled flights showing as on time. Travellers are
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Sun 20 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently experiencing no departure delays, with all 20 scheduled flights departing on time between now and the next few hours. However, road disruptions around
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Sat 19 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently experiencing no disruptions to its morning departures, with all 20 flights scheduled to depart between now and the next few hours showing as on time. T
NATS confirms software defect caused air traffic failure that grounded Bristol Airport flights
NATS said on Friday 18 September that a software defect caused the nationwide air traffic control failure on 8 September that disrupted flights at Bristol Airport, according to a p
NATS confirms software defect caused air traffic failure that grounded Bristol Airport flights
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said on Friday 18 September that a software defect in its flight data system caused the nationwide air traffic control failure on 8 September t
NATS confirms software defect caused air traffic failure that grounded Bristol Airport flights
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said on Friday 18 September that a software defect in its flight data system caused the nationwide air traffic control failure on 8 September t
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Fri 18 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently experiencing no disruptions to its morning departures, with all 20 flights scheduled to depart between now and the next few hours showing as on time. P
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Tue 15 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently experiencing no disruptions to its morning departures, with all 20 flights scheduled to depart within the next few hours showing as on time. Passengers
Air traffic system behind Bristol Airport chaos could be 'unfixable' after 2030, reports say
The technology behind the air traffic control failure that grounded flights at Bristol Airport earlier this month could become impossible to repair after 2030, according to reports
MoD denies military jet caused the air traffic failure that hit Bristol Airport
The Ministry of Defence has denied that a military aircraft was responsible for the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) system failure that disrupted flights at Bristol Airport fo
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Sat 12 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently reporting all 20 of its morning departures as on time. Between now and the next few hours, travellers can expect no disruptions to their scheduled flig
Military aircraft blamed for air traffic failure that grounded Bristol Airport flights, reports say
The air traffic control failure that grounded flights and stranded passengers at Bristol Airport for several days from 8 September was triggered by a single military aircraft's fli
Five men jailed for violent daylight attack outside Bristol Airport
Five men have been jailed for a combined 16 years and 10 months after a violent, coordinated attack outside Bristol Airport in February that left passengers and witnesses fearing a
Bristol Airport passengers unlikely to get compensation for NATS chaos as ministers' rejection of reimbursement plan emerges
Passengers affected by this week's air traffic control failure, including those flying through Bristol Airport, are unlikely to receive compensation, the UK Civil Aviation Authorit
Bristol Airport running normally this morning (Thu 10 Sept)
Bristol Airport is currently experiencing no disruptions to its morning departures, with all 20 flights scheduled to depart within the next few hours showing as on time. Travellers
Air traffic failure was 'avoidable', transport secretary tells MPs as Bristol Airport disruption drags on
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told MPs on Wednesday afternoon that she does not believe the air traffic control failure that has disrupted flights at Bristol Airport since Tu
NATS boss given one week to explain air traffic failure after talks with transport secretary
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander gave NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe a one-week deadline to explain the air traffic control failure that has caused fresh disruption at Bristo
Here are the recent changes at Bristol Airport that affect how you travel, from new routes and price changes to construction and security rules. This page was last updated in August 2026. It covers what has changed, not today's live status.
Checking live delays and departures today
For today's delays, cancellations and live departure boards, check the official Bristol Airport website and your airline app, or a flight tracker such as Flightradar24. This page tracks the changes that stick, not minute-by-minute status.
Travel alerts and recent disruption
- 7 to 8 Aug 2026 Bristol Airport suspended all flights from about 18:00 BST on Friday 7 August 2026 after engineers found a runway defect. The runway stayed shut overnight and reopened at 08:00 BST on Saturday 8 August, after roughly 14 hours of cancellations, with backlog delays, further cancellations and diversions through the day (one inbound flight from Rhodes was diverted to Newcastle). Airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, TUI and KLM were affected, and some passengers described the disruption as a "shambles". (source) (source) (source)
Parking, drop-off and fare price changes
- 23 Jul 2026 RAC analysis found the average cost of dropping off at the UK's busiest airports has risen by about a third since last summer, and the last free major-airport drop-off disappeared as London City introduced charges; all 10 of the EU's busiest airports still charge drivers nothing. Bristol's own drop-off tariff rose to £8.50 for 10 minutes in January 2026 (see below); a free waiting-zone option (up to one hour, with shuttle bus) remains available. (source) (source)
- 5 Jan 2026 Bristol Airport raised its "Drop Off & Pick Up" tariff from £7 to £8.50 for a 10-minute stay. "Short Stay" also rose from £7 to £8.50 for 15 minutes and from £9 to £10.50 for 15 to 30 minutes. The airport said the rises follow the Chancellor's budget, which will more than double its business rates, now its single largest non-operational cost. A free waiting-zone option for up to one hour, with a free shuttle to the terminal, remains available. (source) (source)
Construction / terminal and transport works
- Aug 2026 Bristol Airport announced four new restaurants for its departure lounge as the next phase of its £400m transformation plan, which includes a more spacious departure lounge. Bill's arrives first in early summer 2027 (only its second UK airport site), followed by Bristol-born Cosy Club (its first-ever airport location), wagamama, and a new bar and kitchen called Tap + Brew partnering with a local craft beer company. (source) (source)
- Jul 2026 The new fleet of electric A1 (Bristol) and A3 (Weston-super-Mare) Airport Flyer buses is now fully on the road, in partnership with First Bus. Nearly 1.4 million passengers and staff used the Flyer services last year; the A1 runs every eight minutes from 07:00 to 19:00 and every 30 minutes overnight, and the new buses add air conditioning, USB charging and Wi-Fi. (source) (source)
- Jan 2026 A fleet of 21 new electric buses began rolling out on the A1 and A3 Airport Flyer services; a new public transport service now connects North Somerset towns including Nailsea and Backwell; and a daily Plymouth coach route started on Monday 12 January 2026. (source) (source)
Passenger records / milestones
- 24 Jul 2026 Bristol Airport said it expects around 1.8 million passengers over the summer holidays, one of its busiest seasons on record. It forecast about 80,000 travellers between Sat 26 and Wed 28 July, and around 160,000 between Fri 21 and Mon 24 August, and has taken on extra seasonal staff across engineering, fire, catering and ground transport. (source) (source)
- Ongoing Bristol Airport holds planning permission to grow from 10 to 12 million passengers a year (granted after appeals and a High Court challenge) and has set out a masterplan to 2040 with further capacity ambitions. (source)
New and changed routes / airlines
- Jul 2026 easyJet put a new Bristol to Strasbourg route on sale: flights start 20 November 2026, twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays, making easyJet the only airline flying direct from Bristol to the "Capital of Christmas". The announcement followed the arrival of easyJet's 20th based aircraft at Bristol (its 13th fuel-efficient NEO), with the airline now offering around 90 routes from Bristol to 27 countries. (source) (source)
- Summer 2026 Bristol's summer 2026 schedule adds new routes including Seville, Reus, Bari, Cape Verde and Thessaloniki, with Budapest flights starting this winter; Ryanair operates dozens of routes from Bristol including a new Bari connection and increased frequencies on several leisure and city destinations. (source) (source)
Security rule changes (liquids / electronics)
- 2026 (verified 22 Aug 2026) Bristol Airport no longer enforces the 100ml liquids limit. Its official security guidance now states the maximum size of each liquid container is 2 litres, liquids stay inside your bag with no clear plastic bag needed, and electronics can also stay packed, following the airport's next-generation CT scanner upgrade. Consumer group Which? lists Bristol among the UK airports that have passed government checks to scrap the 100ml rule (alongside Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham and both Belfast airports), while some other UK airports such as Luton and Manchester still enforce 100ml, so always check the rules at your return airport too. (source) (source)
More
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, FAQs.
We recommend a transport partner and may earn a referral fee. It never changes what you pay, and we only list options we would use ourselves.
Last verified September 2026 by the Bristol Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Bristol Airport website before you travel.