Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks, Ray. I can't remember seeing these pictures before.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Petition to turn old terminal roof into viewing terrace.

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/b ... ng-terrace

I came across this when surfing the web. I doubt that there is any chance that it will succeed but I post the link in case anyone wants to sign the petition.

The old terminal, currently used for offices, is planned for demolition in due course as part of the airport's expansion with the site being used as part of an extended apron.

Until the 1980s and possibly into the 1990s there was an open terrace at first floor level outside the lounge/bar area of the old terminal which was 'landside' and was very popular with locals who would come in for a drink and watch the aeroplanes (as well of course as passengers prior to flying out and meeters and greeters) even though airline activity was a small fraction of today's movements.

It was possible to shout to passengers walking across the apron as they left or arrived on flights. I always thought that it must have been what Croydon Airport was like pre WW2.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Central Walkway

This looks to have been completed externally for a week or two but there appears to be work going on inside.

Does anyone know when it will be operational?

 

[alphagolf]

Central Walkway

This looks to have been completed externally for a week or two but there appears to be work going on inside.

Does anyone know when it will be operational?

I asked the question when it was due to open on Bristol Airport's Instagram page, they have responded with a comment:-

"Walkway opened today for test flights"

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ike4wjwdp2il548/Bristol Airport Pier.png

Picture courtesy of Bristol Airport on Instagram

alphagolf

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks alphagolf.

I know he airport said a while ago that it would be open for the summer but when I passed through in mid June it looked pretty well complete but there was work going on inside.

It's almost blocked out what little view of the apron there was from the departure lounge but it ought to be a godsend at busy times as the terminal can become uncomfortably overcrowded on occasions.

 

[big g]

Having had the pier active for almost a week, I can say that it is fantastic. It has more of an airport feel than the weston pier, it feels large and spacious with plenty of seating and the chicken coup barriers are non existent. The views from the top floor are of the whole airfield and you are able to see the full length of the runway. The facilities in the new pier are plenty with lots of toilet facilities, lifts and vending machines.

For me I find part of it is ideal for the likes of TOM,TCX, BMI, SAS,KLM etc but for use with EZY and FR not so much, there is a reason they have the chicken coup style boarding (speed) and it will be interesting to see how those airlines view it.

As well as the new pier they have reconfigured the original gates in the main terminal and made better use of the space allowing for passengers to queue and wait for the busses away from the concourse and the foot traffic with in the terminal.

Stands 4 & 5 are now 5 & 6 with 4 diagonal to take a 757, not sure on the reason for the stand renumbering, I think it would have made sence to make the diagonal stand 6, but what do I know!

All in all it's a massive positive step in the right direction and with the posability of an airbridge being added some time in the future this will compleate this phase of development.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks for that big g. It does sound rather grand compared with the western walkway but that of course was constructed as general permitted development without the need for formal planning consent and so was limited in the facilities it could feature, even though I understand it still cost around £7 million. Now the overall planning consent has been granted there is nothing to stop the western walkway being upgraded if the airport felt there was a need.

My wife and I are not in the first flush of youth but we quite like the idea of an up-to 400 metres walk after or before a flight along the western walkway and find it no problem whatsoever. We parked at the far end when we came back into BRS a few weeks ago and by the time we reached the carousel the bags were already beginning to appear. Much better in our opinion to enjoy a five minute stroll along the walkway - there are some good views of the apron from its first floor windows as you pass along it - than hang around by the carousel awaiting the appearance of the bags.

Back to the new pier, I'm surprised that the airport has not issued a press release about it now being operational. They are usually very much on the ball with press releases.

 

[ljm104]

I flew into BRS last week and noticed activity inside the new pier. It looks great from the outside with far more extensive use of glass than the western walkway.

With regards to the air bridge I wonder what the management will consider to be the trigger for it's installation. I note that at Newcastle Thomas Cook, Thomson, and KLM all use air bridges. Perhaps they are waiting for a breakthrough regarding an MEB3 or transatlantic route before they make the commitment.

 

[Aviador]

First of all, the walkway pier looks fantastic and it will be the envy of many other regional airports so well done Bristol!

As for the installation of air bridges, I don't know how the airport plans to do things there but many other airports charge for the use of air bridges. If this is the case, the above mentioned airlines may have already expressed an interest in using them if available. Hopefully, if this is the case the airport might go-ahead with building them soon. Was it two shown on the plans, I can't remember?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

First of all, the walkway pier looks fantastic and it will be the envy of many other regional airports so well done Bristol!

As for the installation of air bridges, I don't know how the airport plans to do things there but many other airports charge for the use of air bridges. If this is the case, the above mentioned airlines may have already expressed an interest in using them if available. Hopefully, if this is the case the airport might go-ahead with building them soon. Was it two shown on the plans, I can't remember?

Yes, the air bridge was shown on the plans, intended primarily for the long haul charter routes (TOM) in the first instance. Now that TOM has pulled the BRS flights with no immediate signs that they will be reinstated the airport announced a few months ago that the air bridge would be held in abeyance.

More air bridges are shown on the plans for the eastern extension of the airport when that takes place - the timeline for that is tied to the level of passenger growth in the future.

 

[alphagolf]

North Somerset Council has a Non Material Amendment application from Bristol Airport submitted on the 20th June 2014 for the phasing of the eastern extension of the terminal building.

Wording as follows:

"The proposed phasing of construction has been amended to reflect changes in operational requirements and current economic circumstances. Minor amendments to the detailing of the external façade are proposed to suit the internal layout of the building."

"The proposed change to the phasing of the east extension to the passenger terminal is within the scope of a non-material amendment"

I would suggest the continuing increase in passengers is pushing the airport to press ahead with extension to the terminal building.

Link to Application: http://wam.n-somerset.gov.uk/MULTIW...show&appType=Planning&appNumber=14/P/1343/NMA

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thank you for that alpha golf. I hadn't seen it.

The next major work is supposed to be extending the terminal building on its western side. Two and a half years ago Bristol-based engineering consultancy Hydrock were appointed to work on this.

The company was awarded the civil and structural engineering contract for the first stage of the terminal development.

Hydrock's brief was to work on the initial scheme design and to prepare the employer's requirements documentation by the beginning of summer 2012. One presumes this happened but as yet the airport has made no public announcement over the ensuing two years.

It was stated at the time that the west terminal extension will be a three-storey structure, incorporating a single storey basement, of concrete frame construction with a steel frame to the front elevation.

About a year later the airport announced that a 'framework' of 13 contractors had been appointed to work on all aspects of the expansion in due course. The framework was a way of avoiding the time consuming EU procurement processes.

 

[tpm]

Bristol Airport press release, via Bristol Business News:

Bristol Airport announces next phase of development

New central walkway now open and terminal extension to follow next year

Within days of opening a £6.5m central walkway designed to ease congestion at peak travel times Bristol Airport has announced plans for an extension to its terminal building, with this latest development scheduled for completion by summer 2015.

The central walkway houses four pre-boarding zones serving six departure gates and has been designed to take into account the latest generation of twin-engine, wide-body jets, such as the Boeing 787, with provision made for the addition of an airbridge for passengers boarding potential long-haul flights in future. Completed in time for the busy summer holiday period, the central walkway will be officially opened by Robert Goodwill MP, the Aviation Minister, later this year.

Construction of an eastern terminal extension will begin in September. The £8.6m project – the first major expansion of the terminal building since it opened in 2000 - will be finished in summer 2015. The development is expected to attract exciting new retail brands to Bristol Airport as well as creating more space for existing retailers. It will also see the installation of hundreds of additional seats in the departure lounge and offers the potential for a second executive lounge facility. Behind the scenes, it will deliver an improved baggage processing area, while other features include an outdoor terrace for passengers waiting to board their flights.

(more..)

Looking forward to the outdoor terrace!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Terminal expansion

The airport had previously indicated that an extension to the west would be the next major work with a locally based engineering consultancy appointed two and a half years ago to work on the west terminal extension.

I'm not sure how the eastern extension will relate to the single storey section already in place - mainly used for Ryanair and charter flight check-ins. The new extension will presumably be a two-storey structure but whether it will incorporate or be built behind the current single-storey section isn't made clear in the press release on the airport website.

On a related topic, there appears to be no further news of the long awaited and much delayed on-site airport hotel. In April this year a Construction Management Plan was submitted to the local authority re the hotel that suggested that building work would commence in July.

 

[alphagolf]

Bristol Airport have posted a new video on their Youtube channel.

The video is a walkthrough of the new eastern terminal extension due for completion in Summer 2015.

Some observations are that it does not affect the current eastern check-in extension that was completed some years ago, a bit surprising personally I thought they would look to increase check-in desks when you consider the current at times packed check-in for the first wave of departures. I know most airlines now offer online check-in but it doesn't get away from the need for Bag Drop.

On a more positive note, there is a huge improvement airside, considerably more seating in the current departure lounge and the new extension. This has been achieved by moving the concessions out of the central departure lounge area.

Link to video on Bristol Airports Youtube channel below, what are your views?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEJGbjDxBPM&list=UUdvjgfaXnr0fWNTKj_bPlqA

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It certainly appears to create far more space for public seating. Complaints about the dearth of such facilities frequently surface in the local press letters/posts (on the Internet) section.

Looking at the original plans for the eastern extension (still on the airport website) it seems that the current single storey check-in extension, completed some years after the new terminal itself, features a two-storey building. Maybe this will happen in the future with the current eastern extension plans not the finished article.

I know it's always going to be a subjective view but I don't think the design of the exterior of the extensions including the western one as shown on the plan (when it happens) would win many votes for beauty. I think the main terminal completed in 2000 is quite a good-looking structure but the additions are somewhat box-like.

I looked across at the airport from the southern roundabout on the A 38 recently (the perimeter hedges have been cut) and I couldn't help thinking it looked like a Lego construction from a distance, especially the western walkway.

It's what's inside that counts of course and the 'walk-through' video suggest an impressive interior. I've yet to have a look at the central pier - it hadn't been opened when I last flew from the airport.

The main thing is that the terminal expansion is now cracking on and at a decent pace. It's to be hoped that this shows a confidence on the part of the airport owners/management based on matters that they would know about that are not yet in the public domain.

 

[tpm]

Bit underwhelming on the outside, to say the least. Spot the difference:

The extensions on both sides of the main terminal were always going to be a bit Lego block like judging from the arial shots of the master plan, but at least the frontages looked reasonably nice and an effort was made to hide the garden shed tile disaster blocks behind it. Not any more it seems. I guess that would explain why it's so cheap though. Hopefully it's just the first phase and the rest gets retrofitted later though.

Having gotten that off my chest (sorry), it looks nice enough from the inside. The additional seating will be welcomed. The outdoors terrace will be fantastic, and if smoking is allowed there as the sign suggests that will make many people extremely happy.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The outdoors terrace will be fantastic, and if smoking is allowed there as the sign suggests that will make many people extremely happy.

Without wishing to start a debate on smoking I suspect that even more will be unhappy judging by the proportion of the population that is now said to smoke.

The outdoor terrace is replete with many tables and chairs that suggests it's intended for people to eat there which won't be popular with many if cigarette smoke is wafting around.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The outdoors terrace will be fantastic, and if smoking is allowed there as the sign suggests that will make many people extremely happy.

Without wishing to start a debate on smoking I suspect that even more will be unhappy judging by the proportion of the population that is now said to smoke.

The outdoor terrace is replete with many tables and chairs that suggests it's intended for people to eat there which won't be popular with many if cigarette smoke is wafting around.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The minutes of the last airport consultative committee meeting held on 30 July this year are now on the airport website. Nothing of any startling nature was recorded although I was intrigued by this paragraph.

The new concourse café development would be completed at the end of August and aircraft paraphernalia would be displayed to help create a social environment. The Central Walkway was now operational, materially on time and within budget and would improve passenger experience. The expansion of the car park on the south side and the hangar facilities were now complete.

Does anyone know what the concourse cafe is?

The onsite hotel was mentioned briefly but only to confirm that the plans had been approved in May. It was thought from other documentation reproduced in this thread a month or two ago that construction might have started by now.