Bristol Airport to electrify two bus services
The A1 and A3 Airport Flyer services currently serve routes between Bristol Airport and nearby towns and cities, including central Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare, Bedminster and others.
Operated by First Bus, the two services have reportedly made more than one million journeys this year – in what Bristol Airport has called its ‘busiest year for bus usage so far’.
The A1 service runs every eight minutes between 7AM and 7PM, and every 30 minutes overnight; meanwhile, the A3 runs a newly increased service of every half-hour plus hourly at night.
Now, both routes are set to be electrified with the introduction of 21 battery electric buses in 2026. First Bus has not confirmed which model of buses will be used, but has simply said that the buses are ‘quiet, smooth, and fully air conditioned’, and feature WiFi, USB charging, disabled accessibility, and real-time tracking at bus stops. Bristol Airport has stated that this transition should reduce emissions ‘by approximately 74 per cent, equating to an annual saving of around 1,327 tonnes of CO2.’
Rob Pymm, First Bus Commercial director for the West of England, said the fully electric fleet will bring both ‘environmental benefits, but also quieter and smoother journeys for customers’ next Spring. Pymm said: “This investment… represents a shared commitment to delivering cleaner, sustainable transport for the region and a better experience for the growing number of customers who use these services.”
Besides its city transfer services, Bristol Airport also operates electric buses on-site: 11 electric buses are used to ferry passengers between the airport terminals and car parks. Seven smaller EVs are also used across the airport, with an additional six electric buses on the way next year.
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