Your Airport Issue 12 > Summer 2016
Your airport www.bristolairport.co.uk Issue 12 > Summer 2016
Passengers thanked for In it for the patience while improvement work is underway
Demand for flights to and journey to the departure from Bristol Airport continues lounge, as well as creating long-haul to rise with airlines offering an enlarged baggage seats to 117 destinations at reclaim area, customs the last count, and over seven facilities and meet and Long-haul flights will return to Bristol Airport next year million passengers passing greet zone. through the terminal in a following Thomson Airways’ announcement of new But, while work is underway, rolling 12 month period for congestion is possible - routes to Cancun in Mexico and Sanford in Florida. the first time earlier this year particularly at the busiest The airline will use one of its fleet of Boeing 787s to (see back page). peak times during the operate the Bristol flights. That is why we are investing summer holiday season. heavily in expanding and All passengers are therefore updating our facilities, with asked to allow sufficient work underway on a £24 time to complete essential million terminal extension processes – from dropping (pictured) focused on off vehicles in the car transforming the security park, through check-in and search process for passengers. security, to boarding the aircraft. Those on scheduled This is the biggest flights can check in two construction project hours before departure, and undertaken at the Airport up to three hours should be since the current terminal allowed for charter flights. building opened 16 years ago. The first phase opens Thank you for your patience The introduction of the aircraft, known as the Dreamliner, is part in mid-July, and when fully while we work to improve of Thomson’s move to ensure customers in the South West can fly completed in December it will the Airport experience. to the most exciting destinations from their local airport. Since its deliver a faster, more efficient introduction, the aircraft has reduced flight times by an average of 22 minutes and revolutionised air travel with its advanced comfort and well-being features reducing the effects of jet-lag. It is the first time passengers have been able to fly direct to long-haul destinations from Bristol since 2013. The Dreamliner’s debut also creates exciting possibilities for the future, with its ability to reach destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Middle East and even parts of the Far East. Alongside the headline-grabbing long-haul routes, Thomson also announced three new destinations from Bristol for summer 2017 – Catania in Sicily, Chania in Greece, and the Catalonian city of Girona in Spain. Next year’s programme also includes additional flights to Gran Canaria, Pula in Croatia, and Paphos in Cyprus, which enable holidaymakers to choose 10 or 11 night breaks as alternatives to the traditional seven or 14 night stays. Transatlantic links were also strengthened in a separate development when WOW air commenced flights to North America via Reykjavik (see inside for more details).
1 Sustainability
Keeping on track Environment Manager joins industry group Ryanair has topped the table in Bristol Airport’s Environment Manager, Bristol Airport’s annual Tracker Melanie King (pictured), has become Awards. Based on flight records a member of the Airports Council for 2015, the scheme measures International (ACI) Europe Environmental compliance with departure Strategy Committee. As part of this group, routes set up to minimise noise Melanie will be sharing expertise and best disturbance for local residents practice on aviation environmental matters and also encourages airlines to with her counterparts at airports across Europe. use procedures which reduce their noise impact. As a truly international business, aviation benefits from this collaborative approach and Melanie is looking forward to having a direct input to this important process.
Catching some rays Sustainability Snapshot goes digital
Last year the first Sustainability Snapshot was published (copies were included with issue 10 of Your Airport), featuring facts and figures on Bristol Airport’s Ryanair, which serves 30 destinations from performance and impacts the Airport and operated over 3,500 flights during the 12 month period, was the only on the local community and airline scoring over 99 percent for departure environment. track compliance and over 95 percent for continuous descent approaches (CDAs). This year’s Sustainability Snapshot is Craig Hope, Ryanair’s Base Captain at Work to install 420 solar panels paperless, and comes in the form of a Bristol Airport, was presented with a short video which can be viewed online on the western walkway which certificate to mark the achievement, along at www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/ with a large cake to share with his fellow connects departure gates environment/sustainability. 8-16 with the terminal has flight crew! In a close-run race, Thomson For those who prefer more detail, a full Airways and Thomas Cook Airlines were commenced and is due to be annual monitoring report is also available also recognised for their outstanding completed in early summer. at the same location, providing data on performance, both achieving over 99 per passenger and flight numbers, as well the cent for departure track compliance and Once completed, the new solar panels will Airport’s environmental performance, noise over 90 per cent for CDAs. provide the Airport with 101,505 kWh of monitoring and flight track-keeping. The Tracker Awards were introduced in electricity per year. This is in addition to 2013 to recognise outstanding operational the power produced by the solar panels performance by airlines at Bristol Airport, that were installed on the east terminal based on monitoring of compliance with extension last year (approximately 35,000 noise preferential routings (NPRs). CDAs kWh a year). - which see aircraft stay higher for longer To put this in context, rough calculations when approaching the Airport, reducing show that last year’s project produced noise and emissions for some local enough electricity to make around 1.5 communities – are also actively encouraged. million cups of tea, while the latest solar The Tracker Awards’ league table format is installation will produce enough additional an effective way of encouraging continuous electricity to make around 600,000 slices improvement and ensuring any deviations of toast! from track are taken seriously by airlines.
2 Sustainability Passenger experience
New look and location for popular coffee shop Winter opening The popular Café Ritazza has been given a makeover as part of work for Airport hotel to create a west terminal extension. Customers can still find Ritazza on the terminal ground floor in the arrivals concourse, but with a new look and location.
Ritazza is open 24 hours a day and makes a great place to meet friends and family or grab a bite to eat before starting the journey home. The café style coffee shop offers a range of refreshments and pastries, as well as quality coffee and draught beer.
Bristol is currently the only top ten UK airport which does not offer passengers hotel accommodation, but this anomaly will soon be a thing of the past. The Airport’s first on-site hotel is taking shape as construction continues ahead of a scheduled opening in December. The modular build sees component parts assembled off-site before being transported to the Airport for Car park changes made clear assembly, speeding up the process. When completed, the Hampton by Changes to arrangements for drivers dropping off and picking up Hilton hotel will have 201 rooms, passengers at Bristol Airport came into force at the end of April. Contrary flexible meeting spaces for business visitors, and a 24-hour fitness room. to some reports, this did not represent an increase in charges but was The hotel is expected to be a popular prompted by increased congestion in the car park closest to the terminal. option with the increasing number of passengers travelling from more Under the new arrangements, pick up The tariff for 20 minutes remains £1, but than an hour away, particularly and drop off have been separated. This this is now available in the Short Stay/ when departing early in the morning recognises that the time required by drivers Pick Up car park opposite the terminal. or arriving late in the evening. meeting passengers may vary depending This is cheaper than equivalent stays Developed and owned by CIMC, it on factors such as the arrival of flights at many other UK airports. Prominent will be operated by Hilton Worldwide, off schedule, and the time taken to clear signage is now in place to make it clearer drawing on the latter’s experience passport control and reclaim bags. By to drivers which car park they should use of operating hotels at many of the contrast, the drop off area is designed to when picking up and when dropping off world’s top transport hubs. enable drivers to ‘drop and go’, with tariff passengers. bands reflecting this speedier process.
Bristol tops punctuality table again Top 10 UK Airports ranked by OTP Rank Coverage Airline Name/Code Average OTP Bristol has been named the best performing worldwide. For the purposes of the report, 2015 1 93.3% Bristol/BRS 88.64% UK airport for the second year running in ‘on-time performance’ (OTP) is defined 2 97.3% London City/LCY 85.57% a league table measuring punctuality of as arriving or departing within 15 minutes 3 93% Birmingham/BHX 84.42% flights across the globe. As well as topping of the scheduled time. Bristol achieved a 4 97.6% Edinburgh/EDI 76.52% the domestic table, Bristol ranked sixth in performance rating of 88.64 per cent. 5 97.6% London Heathrow/LHR 74.63% the European, Middle East and Asia region, A big factor contributing to this success is 6 96.7% Glasgow/GLA 72.09% and tenth overall in the world. the South West’s uncongested airspace. 7 94.3% Manchester/MAN 68.66% The annual league table is compiled by Airlines, ground handling agents and air 8 96.7% London Luton/LTN 67.37% leading global aviation intelligence provider, traffic controllers at Bristol Airport also play 9 94.1% London Stansted/STN 67.16% 10 96.3% London Gatwick/LGW 65.03% OAG, based on 50 million flight records a key part in making on-time performance Source: OAG flightiew across 900 airlines and 4,000 airports such a success story.
3 Serving our region
South West welcome for first WOW arrival Aer Lingus marks Passengers on the first WOW air flight from Reykjavik received a anniversary with memorable welcome to the South West this spring when they were met at the aircraft steps by iconic local legends, Isambard Kingdom Brunel historic flight and and Jane Austen (pictured). new departure
Bristol Airport celebrated the 80th anniversary of Aer Lingus on 27 May with a visit from the Irish Ambassador to Great Britain and a series of very As well as being greeted by costumed tour around Bath. Tourism organisations special flights. The Irish airline, which characters representing the region’s culture Destination Bristol and Bath Tourism Plus operated its very first route from and history, visitors were presented with expect to generate priceless profile for the Baldonnel, Dublin to Bristol back goody bags containing a selection of the area as a result. in 1936, also marked the occasion region’s produce and discount vouchers for by announcing the introduction of Both the USA and Canada are important local attractions and restaurants. additional daily flights linking the two markets for the local visitor economy and, cities and consolidating its operations On board were 11 international travel although a much smaller country, Iceland’s in the South West of the UK to Bristol. writers from Iceland and North America – population has a high propensity to travel. from which WOW operates several flights Along with a daily flight to Cork, the WOW flies three times a week between connecting via its Reykjavik hub. During a Bristol-Dublin service provides an Bristol and Reykjavik, offering convenient three day stay, the media delegation visited important link between Ireland and onward connections to Boston, Washington the National Trust’s Tyntesfield House in the South West of England, as well D.C., Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles and San North Somerset, the ss Great Britain in Bristol as opening up onward connections Francisco. and the Roman Baths, followed by a walking to North America. Its popularity with business and leisure passengers has resulted in demand for an additional Premier sponsor frequency on the route, taking the total weekly seats between the two announced for Bath cities to 4,500 – a contrast to the first ever flight in 1936 which carried just stage of Tour of Britain five passengers on a six-seater De Havilland 84 Dragon. Bristol Airport and KLM are joint sponsors of the Tour of Britain A sister aircraft and exact replica of the original Dragon, named Iolar - stage being held in Bath this meaning eagle in Irish - took to the September. skies over Bristol, taking in the original site of the city’s Airport in Whitchurch, The city will be hosting a stage finish of Bristol Airport a convenient gateway for with VIP passengers including Irish Britain’s premier cycling race for the very overseas visitors and spectators arriving Ambassador, Daniel Mulhall and local first time on Thursday 8 September. Stage to see top professional cyclists race MP, Dr Liam Fox. The occasion was five, which begins in Aberdare, will finish through the World Heritage City. also marked with a presentation of in Bath having crossed South Wales and Linked to the stage finish, a number of specially commissioned Bristol Blue Gloucestershire. community activities will take place in glass shamrocks to the Ambassador KLM operates four flights every day between Bath over the coming months as part and senior airline representatives. Aer Bristol and Amsterdam providing access of its Summer of Cycling, aimed at Lingus crew (pictured) even sported to 800 short and long haul destinations encouraging residents young and old vintage uniforms for the occasion! worldwide via the European hub. This makes to get on their bikes.
4 Serving our region
round-up of the latest places you can now (Bergamo) and Venice (Treviso) to its Routes round-up reach direct from your local airport… winter schedule. As reported in the last issue of Your Airport, Meanwhile, Easter saw the launch of one of the newer airlines on the block at two new destinations by easyJet. The Bristol – Wizz Air – has been busy. Since airline now flies to Venice four times a announcing its arrival last summer, Wizz has week, year-round, while the French city commenced three new services, the latest of of Nantes will be served twice a week which took off to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, throughout the summer. earlier this year. Germany is also better connected thanks Another eastern European capital will to bmi regional increasing the frequency be served by Ryanair this winter when it of its Düsseldorf flights to double daily Once again, we have seen a slew of route commences a weekly flight to Bucharest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and announcements and inaugural flights in Romania, the South West’s first ever Thursdays. The airline has also added from a selection of different airlines over scheduled air link to the country. Ryanair a new Monday morning rotation on its the last six months. Here’s your regular has also added services to Krakow, Milan popular Munich route.
Wish you were there? Falcon flies across Somerset Day
A new advertising campaign has Devon and Somerset celebrates county’s launched this summer focused Earlier this year the latest addition attractions on promoting destinations from to Bristol Airport’s public transport Members of the Bristol Airport Bristol Airport to passengers from links took to the road in the form the wider South West. team were invited to attend a of the South West Falcon. special Somerset Day lunch at the The new coach service operates 19 journeys House of Commons in May, at a day, seven days a week, departing from which a new eBook was launched Plymouth and calling at Exeter and Taunton en route to Bristol Airport. Its operator, to showcase the county’s Stagecoach, has invested an impressive £2.5 attractions to visitors – many of million in eight new coaches, all featuring whom fly into Bristol Airport. free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, leather seats and charging sockets. With more than six million flights The news follows the introduction of bus and made by people in the region coach links connecting the Airport with Bath and South Wales in recent years. Alongside from London airports last year, the well-established Bristol Flyer, which the South West has the largest provides a fast and frequent link to Bristol ‘leakage’ of passengers from one Temple Meads station, these services have helped public transport use reach 14 per cent region to another. That is why the of total air passengers. new campaign – which features Future plans include a commitment to Glastonbury Abbey (picture courtesy of Visit on outdoor media, Facebook and commence an hourly Weston Flyer service Somerset/Ian Brodie) radio, as well as adorning the when the Airport reaches eight million Last year an online vote chose 11 May back of the new Falcon coaches passengers per annum. as the annual date to celebrate all that is (see opposite) – highlights the great about Somerset, marking Alfred the Great’s defeat of the invading Viking army sheer range of destinations back in the year 878. This year’s event was available from the region’s somewhat more peaceful, featuring tastings largest airport. of Somerset produce in Westminster Hall. It also saw the launch of a digital book about The campaign has initially been rolled out the county by award-winning author and in Devon, but watch out for its eye-catching photographer, Ian Brodie, which is free to creatives elsewhere across the South West download from iTunes and Google Play at in the coming months. www.visitsomerset.co.uk.
5 Our community
‘Bee B&B’ creates a Caterpillar legs it for Spring clean on buzz charity the Common Each year, Bristol Airport staff vote for a local good cause to support and, for the second On a very wet spring day, a team year running, Children’s Hospice South West of intrepid staff from Bristol Airport was successfully nominated as the Airport’s (pictured) braved the weather to official charity. undertake a lunchtime litter pick on Felton Common. Armed with bags and Throughout the year a number of fundraising pickers, the team collected 15 sacks activities take place across the Airport to of rubbish on their walk down the A38 raise money for the charity, ranging from and across the Common. collections and donations to raffles and cake You may have heard that Bristol Airport sales. In May, some of the more energetic The event was part of a wider has ‘bat hotels’ across its site as part of its members of the team participated in the Environment Week being held across commitment to encourage biodiversity, but Bristol 10k road race. To make this even more the Airport to encourage staff to do did you know that it is now home to a ‘bee difficult, and to add some fun to the event, their bit for the environment. Other B&B’ as well? four staff from the finance and commercial highlights were the chance to make Children from West Leigh Infant School in teams ran the course dressed as a giant a smoothie on a bike as part of a Backwell have been busy as bees making a caterpillar (pictured)! staff travel roadshow, and a photo structure for the insects to nest in and sowing competition to win tickets kindly So far these activities have raised over wildflowers in the Airport’s Downside Road donated by Bristol Zoo. £7,000, with more activities and events meadow for them to feast on. The meadow planned for the remainder of the year. is situated behind the Long Stay car park, screened by a bank of trees, and is already a haven for local wildlife. The project was organised by the Airport with help from Bee Bristol, a charity dedicated to raising the importance of pollinators. Balfour Beatty, the principal contractor for the west terminal extension project (see front page), also lent a hand. Bringing a smile to Local Community Fund nears £0.5m milestone young faces The Fund is focused on areas close to the Airport most affected by its operations, Bristol Airport and Airbus comprising the parishes of Winford, teamed up with aviation Wrington, Backwell, Brockley, Cleeve and charity fly2help again Barrow Gurney. Applications must meet earlier this year to host a at least one of three key criteria: very special action packed day of flight for local • Initiatives to mitigate the impact of young people and their aircraft and ground noise on the local families. community. • Improvement to transport The youngsters, all aged between four and infrastructure and services to and 16, were nominated by charities Reach, CLIC from Bristol Airport with an emphasis Sargent and Ronald McDonald House, Bristol. on reducing the impact of Airport They spent the day with pilots, explored light traffic in the community and villages aircraft and fire-fighting equipment, and took Since 2012, Bristol Airport’s Local surrounding the Airport. part in flight-related challenges with the help Community Fund has granted almost • Nature conservation, educational of Airbus graduates. £500,000 to a variety of local projects, projects and sustainability initiatives in including noise insulation for local The guests also met inspirational Airbus the locality of the Airport. residents, outdoor learning initiatives employee, Andy Lewis, who himself overcame (such as the YMCA forest school in Further information on the scheme and adversity when he lost a limb in a road traffic Wrington, pictured), and road and how to make an application can be found accident and has since gained his private pedestrian safety schemes. at www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us. pilot’s licence and is hoping to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.
6 Our community Airport people
Reaching for the stars Happy to help Driving down fuel Each year, Bristol While investment in new facilities consumption Airport invites staff to complete the is important (see pages 1 and 3), Working with locally based Best Companies people are equally essential in survey which collates delivering a good airport training company Somax, feedback about drivers from Bristol Airport’s working at the experience for passengers. Bristol Ground Transportation (GT) Airport and how it Airport aims to provide excellent team have been brushing up ranks as an employer. customer service with a relaxed It helps assess on their road safety and fuel performance in eight key areas including and friendly style, and the efficiency skills. leadership and giving something back to customer experience team are at the community, as well as identifying where the forefront of these efforts. Members of the GT team drive the more can be done to become an employer buses serving the Airport’s car parks as of choice. well as a fleet of vehicles which patrol In the latest results Bristol Airport was the site. Driving style is a major factor awarded a “One Star” accreditation, in fuel consumption, so by following indicating a very good level of employee advice given in the Safe and Fuel engagement. This will be particularly Efficient Driving (SAFED) course, the important in what is already a busy year team can save a considerable amount for recruitment at the Airport - in the first of fuel. half of the year 300 new employees have Sixteen drivers took part in the course joined various teams across the site. The which consisted of a driving assignment range of job roles is varied and includes and classroom learning. On average, cabin crew, customer services, engineering, drivers improved fuel consumption by airline handling, security, catering and retail an impressive 12 per cent. – demonstrating the diverse range of career opportunities available.
On the wings of love
Mandy and Mark Rowse both began working at Bristol Airport Located around the terminal, the team (including Craig Hinxman and Szabina in the same week back in July 2010, becoming Control Centre Sinko, pictured) are on hand to help, dealing Operators in the terminal. with face-to-face enquiries as well as those received by phone and email. The most After years of working the frequently asked questions relate to onward transportation from the Airport and details same night shifts and still of security restrictions for hand luggage. But wanting to spend more time the team also deal with equally important together, it was clear that questions such as where you can post a last minute birthday card or buy baby milk! Other they were a perfect match! responsibilities include keeping the baggage They tied the knot in February, belts free from blockages, operating a left celebrating their mutual luggage service and providing first aid to colleagues and passengers. passion for travel by jetting off to the other side of the world The team say that what they enjoy most is the fact that no two days are the same. In for an epic five week adventure line with passenger growth, the customer in New Zealand – for which experience team has increased over the last the Airport’s Kiwi CEO, Robert two years from 16 in the summer of 2014 to 26 this summer. Numbers have also been Sinclair, was able to provide boosted this year by the addition of ten some top tips! seasonal staff who will provide extra support to customers during what is expected to be another record-breaking summer.
7 News round-up
Seven million up Airline links up with rugby aces Designs for the Staff in the terminal stayed cool future earlier this summer despite the excitement of reaching a major milestone in the Airport’s history – by enjoying free ice-creams with passengers!
The special treats were provided by local supplier, Gloucestershire-based Marshfield Farms, to celebrate seven million passengers using the Airport in a 12 month period for the first time - a far cry from the first year’s operation from the current site back in 1957, when a grand total of 33,000 passengers Airline bmi regional has reinforced its links passed through the terminal. with the West of England by announcing a three year partnership with Bath Rugby. Pictured are Craig Clark (left) and James This will see the team (some of whom are Power (right) from the customer service team pictured with a bmi regional Embraer 145) enjoying ice creams with a young passenger. and spectators flying with the airline to some away fixtures during forthcoming seasons. To celebrate the link, bmi regional gave away free flight tickets to spectators at Bath’s Ten students from Bath last game of the season in May by throwing University’s Department 50 balls into the air. Eight balls contained of Mechanical Engineering winning tickets to travel with the airline to each of the destinations available from visited Bristol Airport earlier Bristol Airport. this year to enhance their understanding of how the Chelsea Fringe flies in design of an aircraft can affect its efficiency in a busy As part of the Chelsea Fringe regional airport environment. Festival this spring, Bristol Airport played host to what is believed to The students were tasked with designing a new commercial be the world’s largest watering can. passenger aircraft with an emphasis on increased range and performance A familiar sight for drivers on the A370 combined with a reduction in through the local village of Cleeve, where it emissions, using state-of-the-art is normally located at a local garden centre, computer design and materials. the giant watering can was filled with tropical plants linked to destinations for its residence Each student focused on a different at the Airport. area, including engines, airframe, under-carriage and emissions control. The Chelsea Fringe is an alternative to Bmi regional kindly assisted by the Chelsea Flower Show and celebrates providing a tour of one of its Embraer everything to do with gardening, growing, 145 aircraft. The students’ designs will community engagement and nature. At the be on display at the University later in end of the Festival, Cleeve Nursery donated the year. plants from the watering can to local primary schools around the Airport.
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