Rapid increase in passenger numbers on the A3 Weston Flyer bus service from Bristol Airport

The A3 Weston Flyer, a bus service which links Bristol Airport with the town of Weston-super-Mare, saw a rapid increase in passenger numbers in 2023.

Almost 120,000 people used the A3 Airport Flyer last year, travelling on the service that runs from Weston-super-Mare through Worle, Congresbury, Cleeve, and to Bristol Airport. Buses run every hour from 3am to 11pm from Weston every day of the year, except Christmas Day. The service extended its operating hours at the end of 2022.

Half of all the journeys on the A3 Weston Flyer were people who work at Bristol Airport, with staff taking advantage of our  ‘free travel for colleagues’. This allows staff travelling to/from work at Bristol Airport free bus journeys, just by showing their ID.

Following the lifting of international covid travel restrictions, the A3 Airport Flyer service restarted in April 2022, having been suspended during the pandemic. Passenger numbers were slow to recover, with only 21,000 journeys undertaken during 2022.

As well as Weston railway station, the A3 Weston Flyer is now linked to the rail network at Worle. In August last year, a brand-new stop at Worle railway station was introduced on the A3 Weston Flyer route in a project with the Airport, GWR, and North Somerset Council. This new connection provides a faster, cheaper, and more convenient transport option for customers from the South West. The route is fully integrated with the train service, with on-board announcements, improved wayfinding, and customers able to purchase a rail and A3 Weston Flyer ticket together. Worle Station also sits on the National Cycle Network 33, further helping to diversify and improve travel options for Airport Passengers.

Ed Condon, Transport Development Manager at Bristol Airport said, “We’re delighted at the return of journey numbers on the A3 Weston Flyer. We’re committed to grow the number of people accessing the Airport by public transport, whether passengers or staff. Weston and Worle are hugely important areas for recruitment of new colleagues at the Airport – the free travel scheme allows those joining us, and our existing staff, the chance to travel to work for free.” 

Subsidised or free travel is available on the A3 Weston Flyer bus for those that live close to Bristol Airport. Details are on Bristol Airport’s website.