'Busiest weekend yet' for city airport

'Busiest weekend yet' for city airport

Easyjet operates out of Bristol

A total of 40,000 passengers are expected to pass through Bristol Airport over the Easter weekend.

This would be the busiest Easter the airport has ever experienced, say officials - and 25% up on last year.

Popular get-away destinations include the Canary Islands, the Balearic islands and Paris.

Andrew Skipp, managing director at Bristol International, said: "Late bookings are going to be popular this year.

"We have reported promising figures, despite the uncertain climate, which has been good news for all the tour operators operating out of the airport.

"With Easter falling late this year, we are hoping to see passenger numbers increasing on into the summer season," he added.

Bank holiday

Airport bosses estimate four million passengers will pass through its gates in 2003.

As the Bank Holiday weekend got under way, there were 15-mile tailbacks on the M5 on Friday morning.

Many people set out on Thursday in the hope of missing the jams but were thwarted by like-minded motorists.

The RAC said the closure of Paddington station, from where trains usually travel west, contributed to the traffic.

Southbound roadworks between junctions 13 and 14, Stroud to Falfield, were lifted for the Bank Holiday.