Travel
Major UK airport reveals £400million renovation plans – including larger terminal and more restaurants
A MAJOR airport has revealed its multi-million renovation project that will make it a much better experience for holidaymakers.
Bristol Airport is to make huge changes over the next five years, with some of them already starting.
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The main improvement will be increasing the terminal size, which will increase by 70 per cent.
It follows a record number of people travelling through the airport, welcoming 10million passengers in a 12-month period for the first time ever.
More restaurants and larger lounges will be part of the terminal expansion.
It also means a larger baggage reclaim area as well as immigration area.
And next year, a new covered walkway will allow travellers to access the airport from the outside car parking and public transport area.
This follows the new development currently being built which includes a new multi-storey car park and larger bus terminal.
The entire project is set to cost £400million.
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees told the Bristol Post that all of the changes will mean an passengers have an “improved journey” when using the airport.
He added: “There will be a range of casual dining options including more restaurants as well as increasing the size of our lounges for those wanting a quieter location to relax [and ] also be substantially increasing the immigration area, baggage reclaim hall and the number of baggage reclaim units.”
“These developments have already commenced with the biggest change to security in over a decade.”
These developments included new security baggage and body scanners which were installed over the summer.
UK airports were given a summer deadline to install these new scanners as part of the lifting of liquid restrictions.
The government has since postponed this so travellers still have to follow the 100ml rule.
However, the improved tech means passengers can now leave their liquids and electronics in their bags.
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Mr Leeds added: “The enhancements we’re making will also be welcomed by international tourists who use the Airport to explore the west and South Wales, visiting attractions and attending events – all of which is vital to those working in the tourism and hospitality sectors.”
Once the improvements are in full operation, the airport hopes to welcome up to 12million passenger a year.
Ryanair also launched new flights from Bristol Airport this summer.
The new routes included Copenhagen, Fuerteventura, Marrakech, Prague, Sofia and Tirana.
And easyJet launched new routes from Bristol this winter – Tromso, Agadir, and Istanbul.
Other airlines that operate from Bristol Airport include Jet2, TUI and Aer Lingus.
It’s not the only UK airport undergoing a huge renovation.
Top 15 busiest airports in the UK
Here are the 15 busiest airports in the UK by passenger numbers in 2023
- London Heathrow – 79.2 million
- London Gatwick – 40.9 million
- Manchester – 28.1 million
- London Stansted – 28.0 million
- London Luton – 16.4 million
- Edinburgh – 14.4 million
- Birmingham – 11.5 million
- Bristol – 9.9 million
- Glasgow – 7.4 million
- Belfast International – 6.0 million
- Newcastle – 4.8 million
- Liverpool – 4.2 million
- Leeds Bradford – 4.0 million
- East Midlands – 3.9 million
- London City – 3.4 million
London Stansted Airport confirmed a £1.1billion renovation, with a £600million new terminal.
And Manchester Airport is currently undergoing a £1.3billion renovation
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Travel
Caribbean-themed indoor waterpark near the UK has four new slides and massive pool – and is 30C year-round
A CARIBBEAN-themed indoor waterpark is just a few hours from the UK – and is a tropical 29C all year round.
Aqualibi in Belgium is part of the Walibi theme park.
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Inside is a huge wave swimming pool, with ‘four different levels of waves’.
There is also the relaxation pool is more low-key as well as the 36C lagoon pool, both with whirlpools and hot tubs although kids under 3 are not allowed in the lagoon pool.
And surrounding the pools are 10 slides to choose from, four of which are new.
The newest are Pomakai which is a ‘hard level’ slide with two-person rings that go up to 31mph, and Banzai, a medium level, two-person water rollercoaster.
Wiki Wiki is a side-by-side mat race that travels 147m and the easiest Waikiki is an 18m high slide.
Other slides include the Rapido, Flash, Surf and Xtreme, as well as Jet and Bi-Bob
And little kids can enjoy the Kiddie Bay or Mini Beach with splash fountains and smaller slides.
You don’t need to leave for snacks or gifts either.
Palm Beach, just steps from the pool, is a serving burgers, snacks and ice cream.
And the Aqualibi gift shop sells everything from swimming gear to toys and snow globes.
Previous swimmers have raved about it as being a “great family day out”.
One person even said: “This is the best indoor waterpark I have ever been to!”
A second agreed, saying: “Best waterpark we’ve ever visited — hands down!”
There are some strict rules on what you can wear in the pool – the website states: “Bermudas, shorts, strings, tangas, pareos en surfer’s wetsuits are not allowed in Aqualibi.”
What is allowed are “bathing briefs, bathing boxer shorts, bikinis, the one-piece swimsuit, lycra swimming costumes reaching down to just below the knees and the elbows”.
Tickets are as little as €13.50 for guests between 1m and 1.2m, while taller guests are €35
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It is open all year round from 10am to 8pm, with themed events including the current “Aqua-lloween” with “pirate-haunted river” and Bloody Burgers at the restaurant, along with face painting and closing parties.
Visit on Fridays and Saturdays for late night openings until 10pm.
If you don’t fancy flying, you can get to the waterpark by train.
Brits can hop on the Eurostar at London St Pancras, which goes directly to Brussels.
The waterpark is then an hour by train from the city.
Or you can fly to Brussels from the UK, which takes just over an hour when flying from London.
Earlier this year, a n ew £48million indoor waterpark opened in France, with Europe’s “only aquatic cinema”.
Five new water attractions opening in the UK
- Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
- Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
- Chessington World of Adventures Waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
- The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
- The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.
Futuroscope also has a futuristic lazy river, eight water slides and smaller zones for kids.
If you don’t want to leave the UK, here’s how to find the country’s biggest indoor waterpark which also has tropical weather all year round.
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A total of 30.7 million passengers travelled through the airport between June and September, including the busiest ever day for arrivals on 2 September
Continue reading Heathrow increases 2024 traffic forecast to 83.8 million at Business Traveller.
PAL becomes the first Southeast Asian airline and 10th carrier overall to commit to operations at the new terminal
Continue reading Philippine Airlines to move into New Terminal One at JFK at Business Traveller.
Etihad has relaunched its new Cadet Pilot programme for 2025, which is now open for UAE nationals looking to join a pipeline of talent to fuel Etihad’s ambitious growth journey, with Etihad aiming to employ more than 600 Emirati pilots by 2030
Continue reading Etihad relaunches its Cadet Pilot Programme for 2025 at Business Traveller.
The 82-room hotel is scheduled to open within the airport’s Terminal 2 in the second quarter of 2025
Travel
First major airline to roll out new overhead plane lockers next year – meaning way more room for your luggage
IF you’ve ever struggled to squeeze in your suitcase to the overhead locker on a flight, then you’re in luck.
Lufthansa is rolling out a modernised overhead locker style next year – the first major airline to so.
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The new lockers were revealed by Airbus last year, called the ‘L bins’.
Most overhead bins require passengers to put their suitcases and bags into it while lying them flat, meaning wasted space in the top section.
But the new lockers will see passengers stack suitcases on their side instead – with 60 per cent more bag capacity.
This works out to an extra three bags into each locker, fitting suitcases up to 61cm x 38cm x 25cm.
Not only that, but it hopes to reduce the boarding and deplaning time, with many delays due to passengers struggling to find space for their suitcase.
The new bins will be rolled out in January 2025, with Lufthansa being the first airline.
The airline’s 38 A320 jets will be refitted with them.
Airbus Head of Commercial Services Europe Charbel Youzkatli said: “We know from talking with airline customers that bigger bins are a clear need to enhance the passenger experience.
“The L Bins provide more space with the added advantage of a plug and play retrofit.”
The bins are being made by EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH) with “ultra-lightweight and highly stable composite products” as well as reusing many of the old parts of the previous bins.
Other airlines are to follow in Lufthansa’s footsteps with the new bins.
Spanish airline Iberia will also roll out the new lockers in 2025.
British Airways also revealed they are to introduce new larger overhead lockers as part of their £7billion makeover.
The welcome move to larger storage on flights is likely to please most passengers, with many being hand-luggage-only travellers.
This is because most airlines now charge economy travellers to check in a bag, leading to travellers opting for smaller suitcases they can take onboard instead.
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But some experts are saying airlines should ditch overhead lockers altogether.
Former Teague cabin designer David Young said airlines were at “breaking point”.
He added: “Maybe we don’t need carry-ons at all.
“Someone needs to step out and say, ‘We’re not doing this anymore.
“This isn’t the right experience for air travel.’”
Luggage Rules for Major Airlines
British Airways
- Cabin Baggage: 1 cabin bag (max 56 x 45 x 25 cm) and 1 personal item (max 40 x 30 x 15 cm), total weight up to 23 kg.
- Checked Baggage: Economy allows 1 bag up to 23 kg. Premium Economy, Business, and First Class allow more.
EasyJet
- Cabin Baggage: 1 small cabin bag (max 45 x 36 x 20 cm), no weight limit but must fit under the seat.
- Checked Baggage: Fees apply, up to 23 kg per bag. Passengers can pay for additional weight up to 32 kg.
Ryanair
- Cabin Baggage: 1 small bag (max 40 x 20 x 25 cm). Priority boarding allows an additional larger cabin bag (max 55 x 40 x 20 cm, up to 10 kg).
- Checked Baggage: Fees apply, options for 10 kg or 20 kg bags.
Virgin Atlantic
- Cabin Baggage: Economy and Premium allow 1 cabin bag (max 56 x 36 x 23 cm, up to 10 kg). Upper Class allows 2 bags.
- Checked Baggage: Economy Light has no checked baggage. Economy Classic, Delight, and Premium allow at least 1 bag up to 23 kg. Upper Class allows 2 bags.
Emirates
- Cabin Baggage: Economy allows 1 bag (max 55 x 38 x 20 cm, up to 7 kg). Business and First Class allow 2 bags (total up to 12 kg).
- Checked Baggage: Economy Class varies by fare type (from 20 kg to 35 kg). Business and First Class allow up to 40 kg and 50 kg respectively.
If you’re adamant in travelling with hand luggage, here is how to make sure you always find space in the lockers.
And a flight attendant has revealed why you should always put your suitcase in the lockers in front of you – not above you.
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