Bristol: General Airport News, Updates & Discussion

[superking]

Weston Air Festival

Takes place this weekend and the Red Arrows will display there as they have done in recent years. They won't be using BRS. According to their website they will depart and return to RAF Brize Norton on both Saturday and Sunday.

I don't think they've used BRS for at least a couple of years. One suggestion was that it has become too busy with commercial traffic. I have a feeling that EXT was used last year for the Weston Air Festival, or it might have been CWL.

It's a pity because the Red Arrows are very popular when they park up at BRS as they are, I'm sure, at other airports they use.

Cardiff was used as weather at brs was not good,so they would not risk it.Im fairly sure they used brs the year before in 1975.

 

[forest1979]

Interesting appointment..

http://swindon-business.net/index.p...ristol-airport-as-it-draws-up-20-year-vision/

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It does look as though the BRS owners are beefing up their senior team.

If 15 mppa (even 20 mppa in some reports) is to be achieved in the next decade or two there will not only be major logistical challenges but a need for experience in finding a pathway through the inevitable serried ranks of opposition.

The next two decades promise to be just as interesting as the last two where annual passenger throughput has jumped from 1.5 mppa to approaching 8 mppa. In that time the airport has been transformed with well over £200 million spent on all manner of things from new terminal with subsequent extensions, diverted A 38, new control tower, various walkways and piers, extra aircraft parking stands, a root and branch transfer of landside to airside, new hotel and so on. It's clear that despite all this there are times when matters need to be improved to meet the current throughput, let alone another seven million passengers.

The CEO said in a recent magazine article that future expansion will remain on the north side of the airfield with an earlier proposal to consider a second terminal on the south side with a second full length taxiway now apparently discarded.

So it's highly likely that another huge sum will need to be expended in the years ahead if the ambitions of the airport's owners are to be fulfilled.

Addendum

Another of those questionable polls shows that of all UK airports BRS is the third most popular along with BHX in terms of a number of facilities and other markers.

NCL was top and MAN second.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids/bristol-airport-ranked-joint-third-114807

 

[kraktoa]

A large newly built reception centre is due to open in July for Silver Zone parking public. But you still have to hand in your key and they will move the car to a distant spot and bring it back near to the reception on collection day. Most people dont like this arrangement.

 

[Kingshat]

Given that an extra 3500 spaces have recently been added and these are already being utilised to close to capacity plus the 'distant spot' is on a prepared surface within a protected Park Mark approved area, I would suggest that many customers do like this arrangement and certainly prefer it to leaving their vehicle with some of the less scrupulous competitors who literally park them in a farmyard or on any other area of rough ground.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A large newly built reception centre is due to open in July for Silver Zone parking public. But you still have to hand in your key and they will move the car to a distant spot and bring it back near to the reception on collection day. Most people dont like this arrangement.

Given that an extra 3500 spaces have recently been added and these are already being utilised to close to capacity plus the 'distant spot' is on a prepared surface within a protected Park Mark approved area, I would suggest that many customers do like this arrangement and certainly prefer it to leaving their vehicle with some of the less scrupulous competitors who literally park them in a farmyard or on any other area of rough ground.

I use the northside long stay car park. It might cost a bit more than the Silver Zone but at least I park my car and retain the keys. That said, if it was a case of either the Silver Zone or one of the off-site non-airport parks I'd plump for Silver Zone, even if the 'unofficial' parks were noticeably cheaper.

The other thing about Silver Zone is that at busy times there is invariably a long queue of incoming passengers awaiting the next bust back to the Silver Zone. There are sometimes about 80 people on the 'bendy bus' which probably equates to 30-40 cars at the car park. I wonder how quickly this sort of volume is processed at Silver Zone reception when they pick up their cars.

The first multi-storey car park (on the northside) should see construction begin this autumn.

 

[Aviador]

Addendum

Another of those questionable polls shows that of all UK airports BRS is the third most popular along with BHX in terms of a number of facilities and other markers.

NCL was top and MAN second.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids/bristol-airport-ranked-joint-third-114807

Having seen the facilities at all three airports and comparing them with my local airports I would agree that the facilities at BRS airport really are superb and worthy of its position in this particular poll.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

CEO steps down to take on new opportunity
Created: 28th Jun 2017

Bristol Airport announces that its CEO, Robert Sinclair, will step down later this year to become the new Chief Executive Officer of London City Airport.

Robert was appointed CEO of Bristol Airport in October 2008 and has overseen a 45% increase in passenger numbers, significant growth in new destinations, and the completion of a £160m development programme which has culminated in the Airport being ranked No1. in the UK for overall passenger satisfaction.

Janis Kong, Chairman of Bristol Airport, said: “Over the last nine years, Robert has been instrumental in leading our team and transforming Bristol Airport into one of the fastest growing and best regional airports in Europe. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank him for his excellent dedication and service. We wish him every success in his new role.”

Robert Sinclair added: “I have been incredibly fortunate to work at Bristol Airport. It is a fantastic team and I would like to pay tribute to the Board and all of the staff, airlines and business partners who I have had the pleasure of working with. Everyone at Bristol takes great pride in serving the South West region and ensuring our passengers have an amazing journey, and with that level of commitment I am sure the Airport will continue to go from strength to strength.”

The Board of Bristol Airport will now begin the process of identifying a new Chief Executive.

NRS press release https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-and-media-centre/2017/6/ceo-steps-down

This seems to have been mentioned in one or two threads away from BRS but not here.

Robert Sinclair has seen the airport rise from around 6 mppa* to approaching 8 mppa during his tenure. He arrived at a most inopportune time; the period when the major recession was beginning to make itself felt around the country and around the world. BRS was adversely affected by the recession later than most airports and began to recover earlier than most which can't have done the CEO any harm, although he was lucky as I'm sure he would recognise to be supported by a first-rate management team and to be the boss an airport that serves one of the country's most economically vibrant sub regions.

Nine successful years in post is a good time to be moving on as even the most accomplished can risk becoming a bit stale not that I've seen any signs of that in Robert Sinclair, albeit I'v viewing from the outside. With the airport launching a huge re-evaluation of its master plan - the first time in a decade - it's perhaps a good time to bring in someone with a fresh outlook.

BRS has bee incredibly fortunate in the quality of most of its MDs/CEOs over the past 40 years with the legendary Les Wilson MD for 15 years until he was killed in a car accident in 1995. The post was altered to CEO and saw the likes of John Parkin (he was responsible for the GoFly BRS base, later merged into easyJet) and Andrew Skipp (had to carry the can for the runway resurfacing debacle in 2007 and left, but before that had overseen healthy airport growth) before a brief appearance from Paul Kehoe who quickly moved north along the M5 to BHX.

I imagine the job is such that there will be no shortage of high quality options.

* The 45% increase spoken of in the press release takes account of the near 10% drop in 2009 to 5.6 mppa following the worst effects of the recession, something not entirely at Robert Sinclair's door as he had only arrived the previous year. After that it has been passenger growth every year since.

 

[superking]

the postings about Robert Sinclair were moved to uk airport managers.
Hope the few days away were good YL

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thanks, superking. I've posted there as well now.

Enjoyable time although the weather could have been kinder but Dartmoor, which we visit regularly (not the prison I hasten to add), is always a bit of a gamble with its mists. It's a bit like BRS in that sense.

 

[kraktoa]

I still havent been able to locate the new silver zone reception for car parking passengers. Where is the new building? There appears to be a very large office block nearby. Surely thats too big a place.

 

[kraktoa]

CEO steps down to take on new opportunity
Created: 28th Jun 2017


snipped.....





BRS has bee incredibly fortunate in the quality of most of its MDs/CEOs over the past 40 years with the legendary Les Wilson MD for 15 years until he was killed in a car accident in 1995. The post was altered to CEO and saw the likes of John Parkin (he was responsible for the GoFly BRS base, later merged into easyJet) and Andrew Skipp (had to carry the can for the runway resurfacing debacle in 2007 and left, but before that had overseen healthy airport growth) before a brief appearance from Paul Kehoe who quickly moved north along the M5 to BHX.

.

Isnt it sadly coincidental that the managing director at Birmingham airport was also killed in a freak car accident, almost 10 years ago.


http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/airport-chief-killed-storms-sweep-3973957

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Shocking coincidence. I believe that Les Wilson perished in a single vehicle accident too.

 

[superking]

Shocking coincidence. I believe that Les Wilson perished in a single vehicle accident too.

You are correct in what you say.The only little bridge with railings on that stretch of road and he found them.A few feet either way and word at the time was saying things would have been different with the out come of the crash.

 

[NOSIGWX]

I still havent been able to locate the new silver zone reception for car parking passengers. Where is the new building? There appears to be a very large office block nearby. Surely thats too big a place.

That's the one!

 

[kraktoa]

That's the one!

What else is going in that office block

Is airport admin moving there from the old terminal building?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I note that devolving APD to Wales is being discussed again on at least one website devoted to Welsh aviation.

The consensus there seems to believe that the main barriers were the South West's Conservative MPs with Liam Fox, the local Conservative MP, highlighted as a particular obstacle. As he is the local MP for the area around the airport it would be a huge surprise if he did not put BRS's interests before those of Wales.

However, in the Westminster Parliament by far the most vociferous opponent of the idea was not a Conservative at all. Karin Smyth, Labour MP for Bristol South - the nearest Bristol constituency to the airport - made an impassioned plea for APD not to be devolved because of the impact it would have on the airport and on local jobs, with many airport and airport-related workers living in her constituency.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Your Airport magazine

The latest edition of this magazine is now available to download on the airport's website.

Visit the below link then click on Your Airport - Summer 2017.

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/news-and-media/your-airport-magazine

 

[TheLocalYokel]

New CEO

Any gossip or rumours as to who the new person might be? I doubt that many would have though of Robert Sinclair until he was appointed, head-hunted direct from his job at Auckland Airport in New Zealand.

Perhaps the new CEO will also be from abroad.

 

[superking]

Does any one know when they hope to have the new CEO in place.