Farrans Secures £30M Bristol Airport Terminal Extension Contract

Bristol Airport has appointed Farrans as main contractor for a £30M terminal extension project aimed at expanding capacity and enhancing passenger experience.

Farrans, a subsidiary of John Sisk & Son since November 2025, has begun work on the two-storey extension, which will infill the space between the existing terminal and the departure gates. The development forms part of the airport’s wider £400M transformation programme and is designed to support growth to 12 million passengers per year.

The scheme will deliver 17 additional food and retail units, nearly doubling the airport’s current offering. Once complete, Bristol Airport will have a total of 38 retail and food and beverage outlets, including premium brands and new dining concepts. The extension will also provide space for island retail units and expanded seating areas.

Improvements are also planned for arrivals, with a new domestic baggage reclaim area featuring an additional carousel and a 20% increase in capacity. Accessibility upgrades will include new lifts and stairs within the immigration area.

Farrans previously worked at the airport in joint venture with Griffiths to deliver the £60M public transport interchange, completed in July 2025. That scheme supports around 250 public transport movements per day.

Bristol Airport infrastructure director Andrew Goodenough said the project would increase terminal floor space by almost 45%, describing the programme as a major step in transforming the customer experience.

Farrans project manager Gerard McNamee highlighted the challenges of delivering the works in a live operational environment, with all passenger routes remaining open. Measures will include insulated hoardings and air-locked construction zones to minimise disruption.

A Bailey Bridge will be installed to provide temporary access for vehicles and equipment between landside and airside areas. At peak construction, around 150 people will be employed on the project, many from local suppliers.