Bristol’s Ascent: A Question of Ambition

By The Wobbly Editor, 14 February 2026

I was reminded recently of the old joke about the tourist who, when asked for directions in a remote part of the country, is told, “Well, I wouldn’t start from here.” It’s a sentiment that must resonate with anyone who has tried to conduct international business from the South West. For all the region’s economic dynamism, its cultural vibrancy, and its world-class industries, it remains hampered by a piece of infrastructure that feels like a relic of a less ambitious era: an airport without proper transport links.

That Bristol Airport serves nearly 11 million passengers a year is a testament to the region’s commercial energy. That it does so without a tram, a light rail, or any form of mass transit is a testament to a collective failure of imagination that has persisted for decades. This month’s announcement from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) of a new transport vision, one that finally includes a plan for a fixed link to the airport, is therefore a welcome, if overdue, development.

Years of inaction has seen the South West’s true economic potential artificially constrained. The WECA plan, which envisions a modern mass transit system and a runway extension to accommodate long-haul flights, is not merely a local infrastructure project, it’s a test of whether we, as a country, are serious about building a genuinely national economy of the regions.

The arguments in favour of the expansion are self-evident. The airport already contributes a significant £220 million in GVA to the regional economy. Unlocking its potential with direct routes to North America and the Middle East would have a transformative effect, ending the inefficient “Heathrow hassle” that forces the region’s businesses to route their international travel through London. It’s a matter of basic economic competitiveness.

Of course, no proposal for airport expansion is without its critics. The environmental arguments are well-rehearsed, and they deserve a serious analysis. But they shouldn't be allowed to become a veto on progress. The aviation industry is not standing still, for example, by investing heavily in more fuel-efficient aircraft. Bristol Airport itself has a carbon transition program. A modern mass transit system, by reducing car dependency, would be a significant environmental gain in its own right.

Ultimately, this is a question of ambition. Do we want a country where economic activity is ever more concentrated in the South East, or do we want a country where every region has the infrastructure to compete on a global stage? The expansion of Bristol Airport is a project of national significance. It’s a chance to show that we are serious about building a more balanced, more prosperous, and more connected United Kingdom. Let’s hope that this time, the vision becomes a reality.

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