The week of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee will be the busiest period for Bristol Airport since 2019. The airport has said that 300,000 customers are expected to travel through the airport over the holiday period.
More than 30,000 customers will be flying on some days between May 26 and June 5, the airport has said, as it again asked customers not to arrive early as check-in and security many not be open. The airport has said it is seeing travellers arrive five hours prior to flight departure which adds to the congestion in the airport.
In recent weeks, there have been long queues and delays at Bristol Airport as the airport experiences "huge pent-up demand for travel". People have had to wait for hours to collect their bags while hold-ups at security earlier this month saw passengers queueing outside the airport.
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Bristol Airport said in a statement: "The Platinum Jubilee holiday is expected to be the busiest period for Bristol Airport since 2019 with customers going on a well-deserved holiday, city break or to meet up with friends and family.
"Over 300,000 customers are expected to travel through the Airport over the holiday period, with up to 30,000 customers flying on some days. With the rapid increase in customers and the huge pent-up demand for travel Bristol Airport and its Business Partners have been working hard to meet the post Covid challenges."
The airport said it had recruited more than 300 people and that more than a hundred people from around the business are now working in frontline roles each week.
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During the busy summer period, customers are advised to check with the airline when their check- in/ bag drop desk opens and arrive in the terminal at this time, it said.
"Customers are advised not to arrive early as check-in and security may not be open – adding to the congestion," it added. "Bristol Airport recommends all passengers to prepare and plan ahead.
"Arrive in the terminal when your check-in desk opens – arriving earlier causes congestion."
Richard Thomasson, head of customer operations at Bristol Airport, said they are working hard to ensure all customers have a smooth and easy journey through the terminal.
He said: "For early morning flight departures we are seeing customers arriving 5 hours prior to flight departure, adding to the congestion in the terminal. This is something we have not experienced before.
"When customers are queuing before check-in and security opens it provides a negative customer experience for everyone, and one we want to avoid. We advise all customers to arrive in the terminal when their check-in opens, this helps us to manage resources and gets customers on their way quickly and efficiently as possible.
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"Each day over 80 per cent of customers experience less than a 20 minute security queue time, it is only during peak flight operations we extend beyond this. We have already made a positive start recruiting new colleagues across the business and it is great to see so many new colleagues joining the team ahead of the busy summer.”
