Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees to Step Down After Eight Years
- Safer Highways
- 10 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Dave Lees has announced his intention to step down as Chief Executive of Bristol Airport, bringing an eight-year tenure in the role to a close.
He will remain in post until a successor is appointed and is expected to support the transition through to the end of 2026.
During his leadership, the airport has undergone a period of significant development and change. This included the recent acquisition of a majority stake by Macquarie Asset Management, an established global investor in airport infrastructure.
Bristol Airport has also experienced substantial growth in passenger numbers over this time, alongside the delivery of several major projects. These include the development of a Public Transport Interchange and securing planning approval to expand annual passenger capacity to 12 million.
More recently, Lees has overseen further strategic planning, including the airport’s Masterplan extending to 2040 and a new application aimed at increasing capacity to 15 million passengers per year. His tenure also covered the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which the airport navigated disruption before achieving a strong recovery compared with other major UK airports.
Reflecting on his time in the role, Lees described the experience as a defining period in his career. He highlighted the contribution of the airport’s team and pointed to progress made in improving services, strengthening airline partnerships, and supporting the surrounding community. He also noted the airport’s work towards achieving net zero operations by 2030.
Jason Holt, Chair of Bristol Airport, acknowledged Lees’ contribution, stating that his leadership had helped position the airport for continued growth. He added that the developments achieved during this period are expected to support future expansion, including the potential creation of new jobs and enhanced international connectivity.
Lees will continue to work with the board over the coming months as plans for succession are put in place.