£30m airport expansion work gets under way

£30 million expansion at Bristol Airport that will nearly double ithe number of shops and restaurants is under way.

- ALEX DRISCOLL

> CGI of the new mezzanine Farrans

(Farrans)

The contract for the expansion, which has been awarded to Farrans, forms part of a £400 million scheme to boost the number of passengers able to pass through the airport.

The airport is targeting an increase in capacity to accommodate 12 million passengers annually.

Construction has already begun on the two-storey extension, which will occupy the space between the terminal building and the departure gates.

Farrans, which delivered the Public Transport Interchange project in 2025, confirmed there will be nearly double the number of shops and restaurants, with an additional 17 units being created as part of the development.

The firm also revealed there will be additional seating, a redesigned arrivals hall featuring a new domestic arrivals reclaim zone and an extra baggage carousel. The development will deliver a 20 per cent increase in capacity.

The immigration zone will also benefit from new lifts and staircases.