Airport Flyer
Airport Flyer are a pair of bus routes that serve Bristol Airport. The routes are operated by First West of England.[1]
History
In 2012, the route began operating 24 hours per day.[2]
The A2 service was withdrawn in January 2018, after having its frequency halved from hourly to two-hourly in January.[3]
In 2018, twelve double-decker Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC-bodied Scania N250UD buses were deployed on the route.[4]
During the COVID-19 pandemic when passenger numbers to the airport had reduced, the A1 route was changed and the bus began serving local stops. This arrangement was discontinued in April 2022.[5][6] From May 2022, Bristol Zone bus tickets were no longer accepted on the route.[7]
From spring 2026, 21 new Yutong electric vehicles will be introduced to the services. 17 Yutong U11DDs will enter service on the A1 and 4 Yutong E12s on the A3. These will replace all diesel powered vehicles on the A1, but will be added to the current A3 fleet with the new A2 service.[8]
Starting in April 2026, a new A2 service will operate between the airport and Portishead. The service will be operated by First West of England via Brockley Combe, Backwell Crossroads, Nailsea & Backwell railway station, Nailsea, Tickenham, Clevedon (Castlewood), Walton in Gordano, Weston in Gordano and Portishead town centre. This will operate 24 hours and on an hourly service.[9]
Routes
A1 Bristol Bus Station to Bristol Airport
| A1 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Operator | First West of England |
| Garage | Hengrove |
| Vehicles | Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC Integral and Scania chassis |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 13 |
| Route | |
| Start | Bristol Bus Station |
| Via | Bristol City Centre Bristol Temple Meads Bedminster |
| End | Bristol Airport |
| Service | |
| Level | 24 hours daily* (*No service Christmas Day) |
| Frequency | up to every 8 minutes |
The A1 runs from Bristol Bus Station to Bristol Airport, serving the city centre and Temple Meads Station.[10] The route between Bristol Bus Station and Lime Kiln Roundabout is limited stop but from Lime Kiln Roundabout to the airport, the bus serves all stops.
A2 Portishead Sainsburys to Bristol Airport
| A2 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Operator | First West of England |
| Garage | Weston-super-Mare |
| Vehicles | Yutong E12 and Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 2 |
| Status | Commences 5 April 2026 |
| Route | |
| Start | Portishead Sainsburys |
| Via | Weston in Gordano Walton in Gordano |
| End | Bristol Airport |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | 24 hours daily* (*No service Christmas Day) |
The A2 service will operate between the airport and Portishead. The service will be operated by First West of England via Brockley Combe, Backwell Crossroads, Nailsea & Backwell railway station, Nailsea Town Centre, Tickenham, Clevedon (Castlewood), Walton in Gordano, Weston in Gordano and Portishead town centre.[9]
A3 Weston-super-Mare Station to Bristol Airport
| A3 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Operator | First West of England |
| Garage | Weston-super-Mare |
| Vehicle | Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 4 |
| Route | |
| Start | Weston-super-Mare railway station |
| Via | Weston-super-Mare Worle Congresbury Cleeve Brockley |
| End | Bristol Airport |
| Length | 12.5 miles |
| Service | |
| Level | 24 hours daily* (*No service Christmas Day) |
| Frequency | up to every 30 minutes |
The A3 runs from Weston-super-Mare railway station to Bristol Airport on a direct route via Locking Road, serving Worle Railway Station before operating a limited stop service from St Georges Turn calling at a singlar stop in Congresbury, Cleeve and Brockley villages.[11][12]
References
- ^ "Changes planned for Bristol Airport bus services". Bristol Airport. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ "More buses and quicker journey on Bristol airport route". Bristol Post. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ^ Frost, Sam (2018-01-19). "First Bus scales back A2 route ahead of scrapping it in April". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ "Bristol Airport route upgraded to double-deckers". Buses Magazine. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ "Bristol Airport called on to reverse bus route decision". BBC News. 2022-04-24. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ Postans, Adam (2022-04-20). "Anger as Bristol Airport scraps free bus travel for pensioners". BristolLive. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ Cruse, Beth (2022-05-28). "Bristol bus tickets to no longer be accepted on Airport service". BristolLive. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
- ^ "Aviation Minister announces that all A1 and A3 Airport Flyer buses will be electric" (Press release). Bristol Airport. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
- ^ a b "Service Changes from 5th April 2026". First Bus. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
- ^ "A1 route map" (PDF).
- ^ "Weston Flyer service to return". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ "A3 route map" (PDF).