Bristol Airport experienced a record number of 9.8 million passengers.

Bristol Airport experienced a record number of passengers with nearly 9.8 million people using the South West's gateway in 2023, making it the busiest year in the airport's history.

Bristol Airport recovered faster from the pandemic than any other major UK airport, seeing huge pent-up demand for holidays and travel to reunite with family and friends.

Passenger numbers have continued to grow and are now higher than they were before Covid hit. The number of travellers to and from Bristol Airport was up over 10% in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The busiest day was in late August 2023, when over 40,000 people travelled through the airport over a 24-hour period.

In 2023, Bristol Airport cemented its position as the gateway for South West England and South Wales, connecting with more destinations and serving more passengers than all the other airports in these regions combined.

This year will see major investment at Bristol Airport, with construction underway on a £60m Public Transport Interchange and multi-storey car park. When complete in summer 2025, a glazed bridge will link the new public transport and car drop-off area with the terminal, providing step-free access and transforming the customer experience.

The project is the Airport's largest since the terminal was built over 20 years ago and is part of a wider multi-million-pound upgrade of facilities to improve services for passengers.

Graeme Gamble, chief operating officer, Bristol Airport, said: "Last year saw fantastic results as more people than ever saw the benefits of flying from our region's gateway airport and we welcomed in visitors from all over the UK and Europe. Our business partners, airlines, and Bristol Airport have been able to create new jobs, building up our position as the area's largest private sector employer.

"Over 8 million people a year drive out of our region to fly from London airports. Our plan for growth in 2024 and beyond is to give as many of those people as possible the chance to fly local and reach their destination through Bristol Airport."

Over 115 destinations will be served from Bristol Airport in 2024. Major investment to upgrade the airport this year will deliver new airport lounges and more retail space as it moves towards serving 12 million passengers a year.