Bristol Airport to Raise Drop-Off and Short-Stay Charges in January 2026

Bristol Airport will increase charges for its Drop Off & Pick Up and Short Stay car parks from 5 January 2026. The changes apply to the closest parking areas serving the terminal and affect standard vehicles as well as minibuses and over-height cars. Airport management links the decision to a sharp rise in business rates following the latest UK budget, alongside efforts to manage road traffic levels.

Updated car park charges from 5 January 2026

• Drop Off & Pick Up: £8.50 for 10 minutes, up from £7
• Short Stay: £8.50 for 15 minutes; £10.50 for 15–30 minutes
• Minibus and over-height vehicles: £8.50 for short stays; £10.50 for longer stays

The revised tariffs apply to vehicles accessing the terminal’s closest parking areas and cover both standard cars and higher or larger vehicles.

According to the airport, business rates will more than double, becoming its largest non-operational expense. Some of this increase will be reflected in parking fees, a move described as necessary to support jobs and ongoing infrastructure work. The airport also expects higher prices to reduce the volume of short drop-off trips, which generate more vehicle movements than other parking or transport options.

Drivers will still have access to a free waiting zone, allowing stays of up to one hour. A shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes between the waiting area and the terminal, providing an alternative to paid drop-off access. The airport has also confirmed that capacity at the waiting zone will be doubled to handle higher demand at peak times.

The pricing changes come alongside wider investment in public transport links. A £60 million public transport interchange opened in July 2025, and a fleet of 21 electric buses is due to be rolled out in the New Year. Services already link the airport with Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Bath, with additional routes planned for towns in North Somerset and a new daily coach connection to Plymouth. The changes give passengers additional ways to travel to and from the airport using buses and coaches rather than short-stay parking.