Bristol Airport shifts free waiting zone
The one-hour free parking area moves until December 18 while £1 million in upgrades are installed.
By Samir Patterson ·
Drivers using Bristol Airport’s free waiting zone near the rental car centre must use a different location starting October 19. The temporary move continues until December 18, 2026, to allow for refurbishment of customer facilities.
The airport is spending £1 million on the project. New features include electric vehicle charging points and dedicated bus stops for drop-off and pick-up located directly outside the zone. Signage has been updated to direct drivers to the new area and mark pedestrian and bus links.
The waiting zone previously offered one hour of free parking for drivers anticipating passenger arrivals. It included a pay station, toilets, and litter bins. The area is often used before travellers proceed to the main drop-off and pick-up car park.
Pricing rules for the waiting zone remain unchanged. Drivers staying longer than 60 minutes face a charge of £20 for the first two hours. Each additional hour or part thereof costs another £20. A no-return policy applies within 30 minutes of entry.
Bristol Airport reiterated its strict no-stopping policy across the site during this period. Drivers cannot stop, unload, or park on the airport’s road networks or red routes. Non-compliance may result in a fine of up to £100. Double-red-line markings and signs indicate these zones on the A38 and the layby near the entrance, areas managed by North Somerset Council and police.
The airport charges some of the highest parking fees in the UK. Its drop-off and pick-up zone costs £8.50 for 10 minutes, a rate exceeded only by Gatwick and Stansted airports. This update coincides with the airport seeking public feedback on its £500 million expansion plan, which aims to serve 15 million passengers annually and launch long-haul flights to the US and Middle East by the late 2030s.
