Bristol Airport - General Thread

[TheLocalYokel]

Is he correct? Has UK government given Bristol £8 million? I know there was a England only fund set up.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1351496777095114753

In November 2020 it was announced that a £100 million fund would be set up (by the UK government wearing its English government hat) to assist 24 English airports following travel restrictions resulting from the the pandemic. Airports would be provided with an amount equivalent to their business rate for the year 2020-2021 capped at £8 million per airport.

It has been in the news again in recent days because the scheme is about to go live.

I don't know what BRS pays in business rates. If less than £8 million they will get the actual amount; if more than £8 million they will get £8 million.

I don't understand the relevance to airports being devolved. Doesn't the WG have a role in the transport infrastructure of Wales? What would stop them doing something similar for CWL and smaller Welsh airports? The same applies with Scotland and Northern Ireland via their devolved governments.

English airports to benefit from new £100m covid support package

More than 20 airports will be eligible for up to £8m in funding each to be used for fixed costs and to support ground handling crews

www.business-live.co.uk

 

[TheLocalYokel]

BRS press release re feasibility project of electric air taxis in the South West part funded by a government grant. The West of England Combined Authority is a member of the consortium.

Project to explore feasibility of electric air taxis in the South West awarded government grant funding

www.bristolairport.co.uk

Project to explore feasibility of electric air taxis in the South West awarded government grant funding​

Created: 26th Jan 2021

A consortium led by Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, and involving Vertical Aerospace and the West of England Combined Authority has secured an industrial research grant by the UK Government to look at the feasibility of an air taxi service in the South West Region before conducting a demonstration in a live environment.

The £2.5m project has secured partial funding through the Government’s Future of Flight Challenge, which was created to find innovative methods of achieving greener flight, finding new ways to travel, increasing mobility, improving connectivity and reducing congestion.

The project being led by Atkins is expected to take 18 months, and will comprise an assessment of the demand for air taxi services in the South West; development of use cases for the technology; and an evaluation of the integration and impact on the wider transportation network, including the region’s airports, as well as the benefits to cities and residents. It will establish viable markets and businesses cases for these services and seek to understand public perceptions and attitudes towards eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. These activities aim to culminate in a series of full-system demonstrations in live airspace across the region

James Richmond, Advanced Air Mobility Lead at Atkins, said: “As we look to the future of travel, it’s now more important than ever that we begin exploring more sustainable methods of transport within our increasingly populated cities. Bringing together the experience and expertise from across the consortium, we’re excited to begin developing a fully integrated system concept, using the latest digital innovations. This an important and tangible step towards making Advanced Air Mobility a reality, and by demonstrating that we can provide a case for air taxis, we could begin trialling these services as early as 2023.”

Atkins, in addition to managing the project, will provide whole-system enterprise architecture, develop safety cases and create processes for secure passenger identification management.

Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based electric aircraft manufacturer will explore vehicle integration, using their eVTOL air taxi. Skyports, an infrastructure provider for the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry, will be responsible for design, development, operation and airport integration of the physical infrastructure to enable safe and efficient air taxi services.

Vic Terry, Head of Digital Systems at Vertical Aerospace, said: “At Vertical, our ultimate aim is to make air travel green and accessible to everyone. This is a great opportunity to bring the consortiums’ products and services together, showcasing that air taxis are not reserved for science fiction but achievable to benefit both our cities and economy in the UK and around the world.”

Other consortium members include Altitude Angel and NATS, who will be investigating advanced traffic management solutions and the integration of conventional air traffic control. Cranfield University will lead on the communication systems required to enable flight, particularly within an urban environment. London-based IT company Neuron will focus on interconnectivity to enable safe and efficient passenger movement. One of the British Government’s innovation agencies, Connected Places Catapult, will lead the research into public perception of air taxis, the ways this method of travel would be used, and the expected demand on AAM as a service. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA), offers the backing of a regional authority and will help ensure plans align with the Joint Local Transport Plan, and foster cross-sector collaboration between the project and the likes of the Future Transport Zone and 5G developments.

Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, said: ““I want to bring the jobs of the future to the West of England and get our region moving. This air taxi trial brings both those ambitions together and is a significant step in cementing the UK and the West of England as leaders in air taxis. Doing things differently is in our region’s DNA and I’m proud we are once again leading the way on yet another exciting new technology, building on our region’s global reputation as a worldwide aerospace hub and supporting our low carbon objectives for the region.”

In addition to the grant partners, international gateway Bristol Airport will be acting as the principal support airport. Subsequent input will be provided by other airports in the region to ensure the concept’s transferability across different infrastructure.

Simon Earles, Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Director, Bristol Airport, said: “We have set the airport an ambitious target to be carbon net zero by 2050. Innovative new approaches to travel, like the air taxi service, are critical to making this a reality and also support the wider decarbonisation agenda in the South West, and we are proud to act as a test bed for this exciting project.”

While the feasibility studies and subsequent trials will be based in the South West, the project will also consider scalability and application in other cities.

 

[superking]

Sounds like a good project,and lets hope some thing becomes of it. The main thing if it gets into operation will be the price it charges the customer. The cost of it for the customer has to be in reach of every one not just the well off.

 

[kraktoa]

Begin trialling by 2023......are they serious about this claim.

Or is it... Begin trialling building the thing by 2023....

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Begin trialling by 2023......are they serious about this claim.

Or is it... Begin trialling building the thing by 2023....

I think they mean taking to the skies by 2023 but that would not mean beginning a commercial service by then. It's obviously part of the push to find more environmentally-friendly forms of transport.

In the end the project might well go the same way as the hydrogen-powered ferry around Bristol Harbourside: tied up at the quayside for years after trials, with the conventionally-powered ferries holding sway. That said it was reported last summer that another organisation has plans for a Bristol-Cardiff hydrogen-powered ferry.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Press release giving BRS response regarding the opening of the support scheme whereby English airports can submit claims for a sum equal to a year's business rates but capped at £8 million.

Both the BRS CEO and the Airport Operators Association CEO commented that the outlook for 2021 has worsened considerably. No surprise there but it does show that the next few months will be extremely testing for airports and airlines, and the various timetables and programmes that airlines have published are likely to be severely reduced at least in the first part of the summer. Both CEOs are looking for more government support.

Bristol Airport’s and AOA’s response to the ‘Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme’

www.bristolairport.co.uk

Bristol Airport’s and AOA’s response to the ‘Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme’​

Created: 29th Jan 2021

Dave Lees, CEO, Bristol Airport said

“The aviation sector has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Bristol Airport, along with airports across the UK, has never had the opportunity to recover. Today’s Government announcement is a welcome relief during what continues to be the most challenging period in our history.

“However, since the Government’s original rates relief announcement at the end of last year, the outlook for 2021 has worsened significantly. It is therefore crucial that today’s announcement is just the first step towards restarting the sector and safeguarding the connectivity and prosperity of the South West. We will continue to highlight the urgent need for more significant economic support and importantly a clear roadmap to recovery. When the time is right and travel restrictions ease, Bristol Airport will be ready to provide the essential air connectivity to Europe and beyond again, which is what our customers are telling us they want.”

Business rate relief welcome but more support needed

Commenting on the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme opening for applications, Airport Operators Association Chief Executive Karen Dee said:

“The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme will provide some financial relief for airports in England devastated by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Most airports have remained open, sustaining consistent losses for nearly twelve months, in order to facilitate essential freight, emergency service, military and offshore oil, gas and wind flights.

“When originally announced, the business rate relief was very welcome and came alongside a real hope for an initial recovery through the Test-to-Release Scheme. However, the pandemic took a turn for the worse and the outlook for 2021 has worsened significantly.

“With airports effectively closed again by the Government’s travel restrictions, much more significant support is now needed. This should see airports through the current crisis to safeguard jobs and ensure they are fighting fit to boost the UK’s post-pandemic economic recovery.”

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Once a thriving airport, which hopefully it will be again soon; currently sees more people as a virus testing facility than airline passengers; to become a theatre at Easter (I presume so long as government restrictions don't prevent it).

The Broadfield Down site has certainly been versatile down the years. From rolling Somerset fields it became a wartime RAF station then, after that was decommissioned, a motor racing circuit before giving a home to a gliding club. In 1957 it became Bristol's airport after the Whitchurch site was deemed too small.

David Walliams' Billionaire Boy is coming to Bristol Airport this Easter

David Walliams' Billionaire Boy is coming to Bristol Airport this Easter

www.bristolairport.co.uk

 

[superking]

i remember years ago and i was not very old then,not like now. 1 day i remember was out with my dad and there was lots of aircraft flying round and i said where are these aircraft from and what they doing. His reply was that Bristol had not long bought the airport that was there and they were doing a day of celebration. Never seen another day like that again. I dont know how old i was.Well as we know the airport has gone from strength to strength and long may it continue.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There aren't many flights for passengers to use at the moment.

Police presence at Bristol Airport as passengers could be fined

Government guidance says it is illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes

www.bristolpost.co.uk

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol Airport responds to lockdown roadmap

Flights are limited at the moment

www.bristolpost.co.uk

 

[Red Flyer]

Expect some good news soon and the reconfirmation of BRS new route potential . Announcement is due imminently.

 

[Marko1]

Very interesting and intriguing

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Expect some good news soon and the reconfirmation of BRS new route potential . Announcement is due imminently.

Very interesting and intriguing

I agree, Marko. There is no clear nudge to the direction from which this news will come, whether an existing airline at the airport or a new one.

In time the airport will want to regain its BRU route and hope that the FRA route that was due to be reinstated last year will return although highly likely for either this year I would have thought. If aviation really begins to get into gear next year the Lufthansa Group might take a serious look at those two routes and bring one or both back. In the past they have been responsible for a lot of onward connectivity at both BRU and FRA.

 

[Marko1]

Hmm. I was thinking maybe aer lingus transatlantic , Turkish or maybe one of the big 3 Middle Eastern carriers . Probably way off though. Perhaps it’s enter air

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Hmm. I was thinking maybe aer lingus transatlantic , Turkish or maybe one of the big 3 Middle Eastern carriers . Probably way off though. Perhaps it’s enter air

The phrase 'reconfirmation of BRS new route potential' is the intriguing one as it might suggest something more than a new run-of-the-mill route.

Red Flyer is always a reliable source and it sounds as if there should not be too long to wait. Actually, anything new would be welcome in these difficult times.

 

[tpm]

It also might suggest less than an actual route Can't wait to find out..

 

[IanFarquharson]

It also might suggest less than an actual route Can't wait to find out..

My money is on Turkish

 

[Severn]

Red Flyer said “BRS new route potential” which I took as suggesting a new destination not flown before (or not for a while at least (EWR for example!))

I’m also guessing, given the way it’s worded, that the route is going to show what potential BRS has going forward - so assuming that it won’t be by a current operator - EZY for example to a mid-sized European destination.

Turkish is an excellent guess and most realistic I’d say. There’s plenty of other routes, even further afield than Istanbul that are exciting to think about but are less likely (Middle East, USA etc).

 

[Jerry]

Just a suggestion but maybe Aegean as they have I believe recently launched Thessalonki to Gatwick?

 

[Foxlimayankee]

With QR suspending CWL, Turkish would be a good shout whilst QR have left things open.