Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Jono577]

Just spotted this in the Bristol Evening News

Ministers have confirmed they have scrapped the idea of letting Wales slash Air Passenger Duty at Cardiff Airport – a move which would have cost Bristol and the region £843 million and more than 1,500 jobs.

Bosses at Bristol Airport, as well as local business leaders, are celebrating this morning after the Government unveiled its new Wales Bill to Parliament – and didn't include a proposal to devolve the power to raise or cut Air Passenger Duty, APD, to the Welsh Assembly.



Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/victor...tory-29403291-detail/story.html#ixzz4BogKcLmv
Follow us: @BristolPost on Twitter | bristolpost on Facebook
Read more at http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/victor...9403291-detail/story.html#1XAOukp6CuHqllIE.99

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thanks Jono. This is currently being discussed in the Bristol Airport General Thread.

 

[kraktoa]

The exit from the airport at the A38 roundabout has become 2 lanes. Also a sleeping policeman has been introduced to slw down the traffic. Lines newly painted. Makes a difference.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

First phase of major terminal extension nears completion

Created: 28th Jun 2016

New security lanes set to enhance Airport experience for departing passengers.

The opening of Bristol Airport’s biggest ever terminal extension is just three weeks away as the first phase a 12 month construction programme nears completion. The first section of the £24 million facility, including a bigger and better security search area, will open on 18 July.

The Airport has experienced a very busy summer so far, with record passenger numbers expected throughout the holiday season. Combined with the temporary loss of space while construction work is underway, this has resulted in congestion in the terminal at the busiest times of day. This has been compounded by air traffic control strikes in France, Greece and Italy which have caused disruption across Europe, resulting in some delays at the UK border when flights have arrived off-schedule.

The 9,000 square metre terminal extension features state-of-the-art technology in a significantly enlarged security search area which will deliver a faster, more efficient service to departing passengers. The first tranche of new security lanes opens in mid-July ahead of the school summer holidays, with the remaining new lanes coming on line from the end of the month.

Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, said:

“Undertaking a major construction project in what is a live operational environment 24/7 can be challenging. This has inevitably had some impact on our usual service standards so far this summer, but I am confident the new facility will deliver an excellent experience for passengers.

“By opening the extension in phases we wanted to make sure passengers travelling during the busy summer holiday get the benefit of this investment. While the extension will not be fully completed until the end of the year, we expect this first phase to deliver immediate improvements for departing passengers.”

In total, the new extension will comprise 12 security lanes, including a dedicated Fast Track zone which will go live later this year. A pre-boarding preparation area will provide a new space for passengers to get their belongings ready for screening, and an automated tray return system with extended conveyor belts will streamline the process through metal detectors, x-rays and security scanners where required.

While the priority of this first phase of development is to address bottlenecks for departing passengers, an enlarged baggage reclaim area, customs facilities, and meet and greet area will be completed by the end of the year, also enhancing the arrivals experience. Completion of the current extension will then enable the immigration hall to be developed in 2017, with plans including the installation of up to 10 of the latest ePassport gates. In the meantime, Bristol Airport continues to work closely with Border Force to ensure adequate staffing levels are in place, including utilising the Airport’s second immigration point whenever possible during peak times.

An additional exit lane from the Airport site onto the A38 has also been created, improving the flow of vehicles during busy times.

Passengers are being advised to allow sufficient time for their journey to the Airport this summer, taking into account busy holiday traffic as well as possible disruption to the local transport network as a result of road and rail improvements across the West of England. Those travelling on scheduled flights should aim to check in two hours before their flight departure time, and holidaymakers on charter flights can check in up to three hours ahead.

Airport Press release at http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/abo...-media-centre/2016/06/west-terminal-extension

The first part of the £24 million extension will open in three weeks time providing additional security lanes, eventually 12 in number, and an area for passengers to get their belongings ready for screening. There will also be an automated tray return system to streamline the process at the search points.

The airport acknowledges the problems that have been occurring with security queues in recent weeks.

The later phase of the western extension, to be opened later this year, will involve an enlarged baggage reclaim area.

In 2017 the immigration hall will be developed including up to ten ePassport gates.

 

[Aviador]

That's looks really impressive. The wall of glass to the right of the picture will make it feel light and airy so it should feel comfortable for both passengers and staff.

 

[kraktoa]

For too long arriving passengers were of no use to the airport as they are not a revenue source therefore the immigration hall etc was tiny. But the airport brand suffered due to this and at last the airport are doing something to improve the arrivals experience.

10 egates is good for queue busting. But will they bloody work?

One small matter. I have seen the new plans for the halls. The letdown and it is a major one is that the entry to the international arrivals hall at immigration will still be those narrow stairs. What a shame that they are not usingbthe opportunity to make that entrance way larger or putting in an escalator. Wasted opportunity.

 

[Jono577]

Planning has been put in for the silver zone car park.
Full Planning Permission
Development: Development of car parking with associated temporary lighting, fencing and landscaping on agricultural land, providing approximately 3,650 long stay car parking spaces for use in peak months May-October and forming an extension to the existing Silver Zone

http://wam.n-somerset.gov.uk/MULTIW...n=show&appType=Planning&appNumber=16/P/1486/F

 

[Ornsack]

"...will open on 18 July."

I'm there on the 17th. I was a week early for the eastern extension too! I need to plan my trips better.

Back in October though so looking forward to seeing it then. Was last there a few weeks back and although the exterior was up it was still window-less and still looked empty inside so they've done well to get a chunk of it done so quickly.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

"...will open on 18 July."

I'm there on the 17th. I was a week early for the eastern extension too! I need to plan my trips better.

Back in October though so looking forward to seeing it then. Was last there a few weeks back and although the exterior was up it was still window-less and still looked empty inside so they've done well to get a chunk of it done so quickly.

I was at the airport last week and there seemed to be a lot of work going on inside the western extension to the terminal - seen from outside on the public road.

In another thread the question of room at BRS cropped up. Can anyone give me an idea as to how full the airport is overnight?

Currently, I believe that easyJet has 13 Airbuses (6 320s and 7 319s) based; Ryanair 5 Boeing 738s based; Thomson 2 Boeing 757s and one Boeing 738 based; and Thomas Cook 2 Airbus 321s based. In addition bmi regional has, what, 5 or 6 E45s based? There is also a night stopping KLM Cityhopper E190. I assume the Eastern E45s for the Airbus Corporate Shuttle live entirely on the southern apron.

So potentially there could be 29 or 30 aircraft parked on the main aprons during the early hours. I know it's not as simple as asking how many stands there are as not all can accommodate every type of aircraft. However, if an airline, whether new or an existing one, wanted to base a couple more A320/B738 type of aircraft would there currently be room to accommodate them overnight?

The expansion plans call for more stands in time but this seems dependent upon an extended eastern apron with the old terminal being demolished to make room.

Many thanks to anyone who can throw some light on this.

 

[Jake]

Not sure how true it is but I heard that they're going to extend the apron the western direction up by stand 34, 35 and 36, also as it stands there aren't enough stands to accommodate all of the night stopping aircraft so one aircraft, has been a bmi recently parks up in the cul de sac (Whiskey 1) by stands 34 35 and 36.

 

[big g]

Not sure how true it is but I heard that they're going to extend the apron the western direction up by stand 34, 35 and 36, also as it stands there aren't enough stands to accommodate all of the night stopping aircraft so one aircraft, has been a bmi recently parks up in the cul de sac (Whiskey 1) by stands 34 35 and 36.

The apron extension has been on the books for years and is shown in the master plan, it would allow for and extra 3 stand up to 737-800.

As said W1 (facing north) and also 26S (facing west) are additions for this summer.

Current list of stands are as follows.

1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 21,22,23,24,25,26,26S,29L,29R,30L,31,32,33,34,35,36,W1

Stands 4,13L,14L,15L,16L,29,30, are only used when the above stands are free of dependent on aircraft type.

W1 blocks in stand 34, stand 26S blocks in 26, so have to be one of the first wave aircraft to depart.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks Jake and big g. From what you both say it seems that parking space could start to be a serious issue if many more aircraft are based at BRS. Ideally, I suppose, the airport could do with more WOW and Wizz type operations where the aircraft come from other bases and don't need to park up at BRS overnight. Furthermore, this would have the effect of not adding to the peaks caused by based aircraft departing.

 

[Jerry]

Forgive my ignorance but i was wondering why Bristol hasn't extended it's runway to take bigger aircraft? Or is it not possible?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Forgive my ignorance but i was wondering why Bristol hasn't extended it's runway to take bigger aircraft? Or is it not possible?

I reproduce below a post about this subject my alter ego made on another aviation website a few months ago.

The airport’s master plan deals with the issue in some detail and suggests five options (apart from the first the others would all involve an extension at the eastern end of the airfield) that have been considered which, in summary, are:

1. Do nothing and reassess in the light of experience if thought necessary.

2. Extend by 140 metres - the maximum that can be accomplished within existing airport land without any need for airport control of Felton Common. The A 38 would still need to use a 150-metre long tunnel and ILS for 09 would need to be relocated just inside airport land.

3. Extend by 389 metres - the maximum that can be accommodated within existing airport land but the ILS localiser and possibly approach lighting would need to sited on the Common, with a 240 metre by 150 metre area of the Common coming into airport control.

4. Extend by 239 metres with a 150 metre starter strip. This option would add 389m to the runway 27 take off run, but only about 150m to the runway 09 take off run. This therefore means that runway 09 has performance penalties compared with runway 27.

5. Extend runway further, with further encroachment onto Felton Common. Safety requirements might erode some of the potential benefits.

The overall conclusion in the master plan is that ‘the improvement in performance that might be achieved by extending the runway is relatively small in comparison with the costs and the potential environmental impact’. Therefore the preferred option is the ‘do nothing’ but the issue will be kept under review in subsequent updates of the master plan.

The full master plan can be accessed via the Bristol Airport website.

 

[Jerry]

Ok thanks it sounds like it would be a lot of hassle without much benefit!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Ok thanks it sounds like it would be a lot of hassle without much benefit!

That's certainly the airport's view. Part of their thinking revolves around new generation long haul aircraft such as the B787 and A350 being able to discount the penalties of the short BRS runway to a higher degree than older types.

Furthermore, the BRS master plan is cautious about a market for a wide range of scheduled long haul services. It believes that about four routes might be viable and suggests New York, Washington, Dubai and another US airport and mentions Atlanta. No doubt Dubai would be interchangeable with, say, Doha. The master plan is more optimistic about long haul charter routes.

 

[Jerry]

That's certainly the airport's view. Part of their thinking revolves around new generation long haul aircraft such as the B787 and A350 being able to discount the penalties of the short BRS runway to a higher degree than older types.

Furthermore, the BRS master plan is cautious about a market for a wide range of scheduled long haul services. It believes that about four routes might be viable and suggests New York, Washington, Dubai and another US airport and mentions Atlanta. No doubt Dubai would be interchangeable with, say, Doha. The master plan is more optimistic about long haul charter routes.

T
Yeah it was a bit of a blow for CWL to lose the Thomson charters as i think the airport was hoping that they might get more considering Thomson did announced the cruise flights to Dubai. As for Bristol it will limit them to airlines with 787s and A350's but i wouldn't be surprised if they get a ME3 airline i don't know which US ones have those types.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Looking at the history of transatlantic summer sun charters from Severnside, until about ten years ago CWL enjoyed primacy with both Thomson and at one time Airtours/MYT (now morphed into Thomas Cook) operating weekly summer charters as did other airlines from time to time, including a B747 in peak summer for a year or two (the name of the airline and tour company now escapes me).

BRS had the occasional season or part season to Florida and/or the Caribbean, usually by Thomson, but nothing on the scale of CWL. Then First Choice that had a significant presence at BRS but virtually nothing at CWL began to put on weekly summer charters from BRS to Florida and the Caribbean.

When First Choice merged with Thomson the BRS summer transatlantic charters remained but TUI operated no summer long haul from CWL. This carried on until the end of summer 2013 when TUI axed the BRS flights, probably because the former First Choice B 767s (fewer seats than the original TOM 767s and therefore lighter) that operated the route were to leave the Thomson fleet the following year.

In 2010 the Thomson MD had stated that BRS would be one of the first airports to operate the 787 that would be entering the fleet in the years to come. When that didn't happen some wondered whether the disproportionate number of heavy 767 landings on runway 09 (highlighted in an AAIB report following a serious landing incident with a TOM 767 in 2010 - after the MD's statement) had caused TUI to have a rethink about using wide-bodied aircraft into BRS, although they had continued to do so for a further three years after the landing incident. There were some scare stories put about on some aviation websites, in some cases by individuals with a particular agenda.

Anyway, the decision to reinstate the summer transatlantic charters from next year came as a surprise to some, especially as it was announced before the APD devolution announcement was made.

 

[Jerry]

Looking at the history of transatlantic summer sun charters from Severnside, until about ten years ago CWL enjoyed primacy with both Thomson and at one time Airtours/MYT (now morphed into Thomas Cook) operating weekly summer charters as did other airlines from time to time, including a B747 in peak summer for a year or two (the name of the airline and tour company now escapes me).

BRS had the occasional season or part season to Florida and/or the Caribbean, usually by Thomson, but nothing on the scale of CWL. Then First Choice that had a significant presence at BRS but virtually nothing at CWL began to put on weekly summer charters from BRS to Florida and the Caribbean.

When First Choice merged with Thomson the BRS summer transatlantic charters remained but TUI operated no summer long haul from CWL. This carried on until the end of summer 2013 when TUI axed the BRS flights, probably because the former First Choice B 767s (fewer seats than the original TOM 767s and therefore lighter) that operated the route were to leave the Thomson fleet the following year.

In 2010 the Thomson MD had stated that BRS would be one of the first airports to operate the 787 that would be entering the fleet in the years to come. When that didn't happen some wondered whether the disproportionate number of heavy 767 landings on runway 09 (highlighted in an AAIB report following a serious landing incident with a TOM 767 in 2010 - after the MD's statement) had caused TUI to have a rethink about using wide-bodied aircraft into BRS, although they had continued to do so for a further three years after the landing incident. There were some scare stories put about on some aviation websites, in some cases by individuals with a particular agenda.

Anyway, the decision to reinstate the summer transatlantic charters from next year came as a surprise to some, especially as it was announced before the APD devolution announcement was made.

It does seem that BRS is favoured by the charter companies as CWL never seems to get a new route from them while BRS does. I also wonder if in the future if Thomas Cook change to A350's/787s then they would also shift long haul as well. I do wonder why they shifted because i would've thought with those types of holidays people would be willing to travel and why they didn't shift the cruise ship flights as well?

 

[Jerry]

Looking at the history of transatlantic summer sun charters from Severnside, until about ten years ago CWL enjoyed primacy with both Thomson and at one time Airtours/MYT (now morphed into Thomas Cook) operating weekly summer charters as did other airlines from time to time, including a B747 in peak summer for a year or two (the name of the airline and tour company now escapes me).

BRS had the occasional season or part season to Florida and/or the Caribbean, usually by Thomson, but nothing on the scale of CWL. Then First Choice that had a significant presence at BRS but virtually nothing at CWL began to put on weekly summer charters from BRS to Florida and the Caribbean.

When First Choice merged with Thomson the BRS summer transatlantic charters remained but TUI operated no summer long haul from CWL. This carried on until the end of summer 2013 when TUI axed the BRS flights, probably because the former First Choice B 767s (fewer seats than the original TOM 767s and therefore lighter) that operated the route were to leave the Thomson fleet the following year.

In 2010 the Thomson MD had stated that BRS would be one of the first airports to operate the 787 that would be entering the fleet in the years to come. When that didn't happen some wondered whether the disproportionate number of heavy 767 landings on runway 09 (highlighted in an AAIB report following a serious landing incident with a TOM 767 in 2010 - after the MD's statement) had caused TUI to have a rethink about using wide-bodied aircraft into BRS, although they had continued to do so for a further three years after the landing incident. There were some scare stories put about on some aviation websites, in some cases by individuals with a particular agenda.

Anyway, the decision to reinstate the summer transatlantic charters from next year came as a surprise to some, especially as it was announced before the APD devolution announcement was made.

It does seem that BRS is favoured by the charter companies as CWL never seems to get a new route from them while BRS does. I also wonder if in the future if Thomas Cook change to A350's/787s then they would also shift long haul as well. I do wonder why they shifted because i would've thought with those types of holidays people would be willing to travel and why they didn't shift the cruise ship flights as well? Or do they need a longer runway?