Bristol International Airport
The economic impact of Bristol International Airport on the regional economy
Bristol International Airport (BIA) is one of the fastest growing regional airports in the UK, serving over six million passengers per annum and directly employing 2,700 people. National aviation policy supports expansion of BIA by 2030 as the prime airport in the South West.
In 2005, Roger Tym & Partners was commissioned to undertake an Economic Impact Assessment of BIA to support the planning application for the proposed airport expansion masterplan. We assessed the impact of the airport's expansion on the regional and local economies; we have since updated the report three times (most recently in January 2009) as new data relevant to the impact of Bristol Airport has been published.
The presence of BIA in the South West supports an estimated 770 jobs in the region via its indirect and induced effects. In addition, inbound tourists arriving via the airport support up to 3300 jobs in the tourism sector with their spending in the South West. By improving connectivity, BIA can add to the competitiveness of the region: 3500 local businesses regularly use the airport. The proposed redevelopment of the airport would help it serve a further four million passengers per annum and create up to 3700 additional jobs directly and in the wider economy of the region by 2019/2020, adding £214 million to the local economy annually.
Our report concluded that the airport saves business time and money, generates jobs, and opens up the area to increased economic activity. Without expansion, the region would be unable to encourage new businesses to locate here, and existing businesses would struggle to compete in the wider market.
Our initial work, which has since been revisited and updated regularly, included:
- an extensive review of national and regional strategies and policies
- assessment of UK airport expansions and their economic impacts
- UK aviation policy
- market trends, including traffic forecasts
- regional strategic economic assessment
- gaining a thorough understanding of airport operations
- robust estimates of the employment and spending implications of BIA's present operations and assessment of its future growth plans
