Airport Flyer

Airport Flyer is a brand of bus routes that serve Bristol Airport. The routes are operated by First West of England.

History

In 2012, the route began operating 24 hours per day.

The A2 service was withdrawn in January 2018, after having its frequency halved from hourly to two-hourly in January.

In 2018, twelve double-decker Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC-bodied Scania N250UD buses were deployed on the route.

During the COVID-19 pandemic when passenger numbers to the airport had reduced, the A1 route was changed and the bus began serving local stops. This arrangement was discontinued in April 2022. From May 2022, Bristol Zone bus tickets were no longer accepted on the route.

From spring 2026, 21 new Yutong electric vehicles will be introduced to the services. 17 Yutong U11DDs will enter service on the A1 and 4 Yutong E12s on the A3. These will replace all diesel powered vehicles on the A1, but will be added to the current A3 fleet with the new A2 service.

Starting in April 2026, a new A2 service will operate between the airport and Portishead. The service will be operated by First West of England via Nailsea & Backwell Station, Nailsea, Tickenham, Clevedon, Walton in Gordano and Weston in Gordano. This will operate 24 hours and on an hourly service.

Routes

A1 Bristol Bus Station to Bristol Airport

A1
Overview
Operator	First West of England
Garage	Hengrove
Vehicles	Yutong U11DD
Peak vehicle requirement	15
Route
Start	Bristol Bus Station
Via	Bristol City Centre Bristol Temple Meads Bedminster
End	Bristol Airport
Service
Level	24 hours daily (No service Christmas Day)
Frequency	up to every 8 minutes

The A1 operates a limited stop service via Bristol City centre, Temple Meads Station and Lime Kiln Roundabout before serving all stops along the A38 to the airport.

A2 Portishead Sainsburys to Bristol Airport

A2
Overview
Operator	First West of England
Garage	Weston-super-Mare
Vehicles	Yutong E12 and Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
Peak vehicle requirement	2
Route
Start	Portishead
Via	Weston in Gordano Walton in Gordano Clevedon Tickenham Nailsea Backwell Downside
End	Bristol Airport
Service
Level	24 hours daily (No service Christmas Day)
Frequency	Every 60 minutes

The A2 operates via Downside, Backwell, Nailsea & Backwell Station, Nailsea, Tickenham, Clevedon, Walton in Gordano and Weston in Gordano.

A3 Weston-super-Mare Station to Bristol Airport

A3
Overview
Operator	First West of England
Garage	Weston-super-Mare
Vehicle	Yutong E12 and Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
Peak vehicle requirement	4
Route
Start	Weston-super-Mare
Via	Worle Congresbury Cleeve Brockley Downside
End	Bristol Airport
Length	12.5 miles
Service
Level	24 hours daily (No service Christmas Day)
Frequency	up to every 30 minutes

The A3 operates via Locking Road and Worle Railway Station before operating a limited stop service from St Georges Turn calling at a singlar stop in Congresbury, Cleeve, Brockley and Downside villages.

References