BRISTOL Airport has revealed it’s masterplan to 2040, with dramatic passenger number increases and new destinations..

The airport’s plans suggest that it aims to transform travel into and out of the region over the next five to 15 years.

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Bristol Airport has revealed it’s masterplan to 2040[/caption]

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The airport hopes to increase passengers by 5million, by the late 2030s[/caption]

Current proposals include serving more connections and destinations including new long-haul flights such as the east coast of America and the Middle East.

In addition, the airport also wants to increase annual passenger numbers from 10million to 15million, by the late 2030s.

If the plans go ahead, Bristol Airport will reduce the number of journeys taken to London airports from the south west and south Wales

Currently, 10million passengers undertake journeys to London airports each year from these regions.

Proposals also including rising the number of flights from 85,990 per year to 100,000.

On a busy day in peak season, this would mean an additional 35 flights.

Night restrictions are planned to be kept at the airport but the airport is also proposing to increase night flights by 1,000 flights a year.

This would mean on average, four per night on a busy nigh in the peak season.

In the shorter term – over the next five years – the airport’s terminal buildings will be extended to include a larger immigration area for arriving flights, more space for baggage reclaim, more shops and a new lounge.

The airport is also working to introduce an upgraded entrance with more car parking and a walkway so that passengers no longer have to get a bus out to planes.

Over £60million will also be spent on improving bus and coach services in the region.

There will also be a new drop-off and pick-up location, as well as e-charging points.

Then – as part of the larger masterplan – by 2040, the airport plans to have new bus lanes, improved public transport links, highway improvements, a rapid EV charging hub, new buildings, over 8,000 more car parking spaces, additional hotel accommodation, an expanded car rental area and an extended runway.

It is also even considering having a ‘vertiport’ for electric vertical, take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft services.

The report states: “These zero-emissions aircraft are sometimes called ‘flying taxis’, and in future could play a role comparable
to helicopters today.

“While the technology is in the early stages of development, it is unlikely to be a major passenger service, but over time it could become viable to carry greater volumes of people between UK regions.”

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Other proposals include increasing the number of night flights[/caption]

A planning application for the appropriate infrastructure for all of the plans, will be submitted later this year.

There are currently 14 airlines operating from Bristol Airport to 115 destinations including Alicante, Majorca, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Tenerife and Barcelona.

In 2024, Amsterdam was the most popular destination, followed by Alicante and Majorca.

According to the report, the airport is primarily used for leisure (41.9 per cent), followed by visiting family and friends (26.9 per cent) and package holidays (15.9 per cent).

Business customers make up the smallest portion of passengers using the airport (15.3 per cent).

In total, the airport contributes around £2billion to the south west and South Wales regions each year.

By 2040, the airport hopes to grow this to £3billion.

And by 2050, the airport also hopes to become net-zero.

Dave Lees, CEO of Bristol Airport, said: “We’re continuing to see strong demand to travel to and from our region, with business travel surprisingly holding up since the pandemic and people wanting to connect with friends and family across Europe.

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Bus services and terminal buildings will also be upgraded[/caption]

“More than 10 million people from our catchment continue to travel to fly from Heathrow and London airports every year.

“We’re confident we can capture a section of that demand and boost the economy of our region by providing direct connections to North America and the Middle East.”

Bristol Airport previously did fly to America via Continental Airlines – which is now defunct.

There was a direct service between Bristol and Newark Liberty International Airport – which launched in 2005 and marked the airport’s first ever non-stop transatlantic service from the southwest of England.

The flights were popular with more than 400,000 passengers using the route.

However, in 2010, the route was scrapped after the airline stopped operations at both airports.

Bristol Airport does already serve the Middle East though, including destinations such as Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus.

Another UK airport also has major plans for millions more passengers ahead of £1.1bn expansion – with new flights to Europe this year.

Plus, London Heathrow has revealed plans to expand two of its terminals as part of multi-billion renovation.

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The airport also hopes to be net-zero by 2050[/caption]

WATCH the hilarious moment e-scooter riders get instant karma after speeding on the pavement as they crash into one another.

The video, taken on a dash cam, shows two teenagers recklessly riding e-scooters on the pavement of a quiet road in Bedfordshire.

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

As the footage begins, a rider wearing a light-coloured tracksuit can be seen speeding along the pavement.

Suddenly, another rider appears in the corner of the video as he races down a side road.

He then mounts the same pavement the driver has already occupied, unaware of the impending collision.

Both riders appear to be moving at speed, as neither slows down in time to avoid the head-on crash.

The rider wearing black tracksuit looks like he’s trying to swerve out of the way – but it’s already far too late.

As the pair collide at the corner of the road, the force pushes them both off their vehicles.

The first e-scooter rider comes out worse for wear, as he is knocked backwards into the air.

He is quickly knocked to the ground, landing on his wrist as he falls off the pavement.

Meanwhile, the other rider appears to have been knocked backwards, although he does at least seem to mostly land in the grass.

As the driver passes by, the grey-tracksuit teenager can be seen lying on his back on the road.

Both of their e-scooters lie tangled together on the pavement as the video cuts out.

It’s not the first time that motorists have faced immediate consequences for their reckless driving.

Dashcam footage captured the moment a driver faced instant karma when he tried to brake check a lorry.

Driving on the motorway, the idiotic driver cuts in front of the lorry, forcing him to quickly slam on his breaks.

However, the dangerous manoeuvre caught the attention of nearby police, as two motorbikes quickly flank the car and get him to pull over.

The risky move is also sometimes called a “cash for crash” scam, as the drivers hope to claim on their insurance if it ends badly.

After making some hand gestures at the police bikes, the driver is seen compliantly pulling off at an exit road.

Another driver faced similar consequences for his behaviour after undertaking a fellow motorist.

Captured on dashcam footage, video shows a black car attempting to get ahead of traffic on a busy motorway, by cutting in from the bus lane at the last second.

The manoeuvre forces the silver car to brake sharply, as the driver then pulls across a solid white line to mimic the same technique as his rival.

However, he probably wasn’t too pleased when the black SUV turned on its blue lights, revealing itself to be an unmarked police car.

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

LIVERPOOL claim they now rival Manchester United with one billion fans worldwide while becoming the most watched club in the Premier League.

Old Trafford part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe boasted that the Red Devils were followed by that staggering global number as he launched plans to build a new £2billion stadium in March.

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Thousands turned up for Liverpool’s trophy parade after their Premier League triumph[/caption]

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Liverpool historically are one of the most followed clubs in the world[/caption]

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Liverpool’s ownership of John Henry, left, and Tom Werner led the team to Premier League success[/caption]

But Anfield chairman Tom Werner has the figures to prove that his “relentless” club not only finished top in the title race last season but also left their bitter rivals for dead in the TV viewing stakes as well.

He insisted: “We are very aware of the global power of Liverpool. The club’s reach around the world is by far the strongest in the Premier League.

“We’re the only Premier League club to surpass 500million views on television [by March 2025 from August last season].

“Last season on social media we generated 1.7 billion engagements. That’s not unique engagements, but it’s still a huge number.

“Many Americans still don’t appreciate the global power of football but over the next ten years I think the Premier League is going to be huge in the US.

“We think there could now be as many as a billion people around the world who follow Liverpool.

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“There is a special connection with the fans. You feel it at the games at Anfield, when they start to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s deep and emotional.”

Werner puts Liverpool’s growing global popularity down to the way Slot’s predecessor Jurgen Klopp helped the club plan for the future without him – and how the Dutchman seamlessly replaced him last summer.

As he oversees Slot’s summer spend on a re-build that has already cost £170m including £116m Florian Wirtz, Werner explained: “At the LFC Foundation Gala Ball, Jurgen was talking about how relentless the job is.

“To be fair and complimentary to Jurgen, he wanted to transition in a very orderly way and he left the club in very good shape and Arne didn’t feel as though he needed to bring in three or four new players.

“What’s was so special about Arne is that he’s very authentic and he is not trying to be the next Jurgen Klopp, the next Pep Guardiola.

“He is his own man and he is going to approach the club in his own sincere and thoughtful way.

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Arne Slot led the team to Premier League victory last season[/caption]

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Both Salah and Van Dijk have signed new deals to stay at the club[/caption]

“It is an exciting time right now but we wake up every day and I keep using the word relentless.

“We want to win more trophies, we don’t want to just appreciate what we have done.

“We are hungry to be more successful and what is exciting is that the league is tremendously competitive and we think it will be a challenging season.”

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THERE is a beautiful beach in Europe where you might bump into a royal couple.

Galé Fontainhas Beach, called one of the most beautiful in Europe, is in the Alentejo region and is just minutes away is the house of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.

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Galé Fontainhas Beach has a huge beach and towering orange cliffs[/caption]

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Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack split time between London and Portugal[/caption]

Galé Fontainhas Beach is a lesser-known spot on the coast with ancient fossil cliffs that are approximately five million years old and has been called one the most beautiful by Europe Best Destinations.

The cliffs Portugal are orange due to the rock formation, which is primarily sandstone and clay.

The materials contain iron oxide, which gives them their distinctive reddish-orange colour.

The beach cliffs, reaching over 50 metres in height, and the waters are often clear.

One visitor wrote on a Tripadvisor review: “A real hidden gem. Beautiful clean beach, crystal clear water, just about right waves to have fun in the water, magnificent views from the top of the rocks.”

Swimmers have reported deep waters and potential strong currents.

Just minutes away from the beach is the luxury golf and ocean club that Princess Eugenie and her family call home.

The royal couple split their time between Portugal and London because of Jack’s job.

He works in marketing and sales at a private resort near the village on the Alentejo coast.

Jack works for the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club which is found between the villages of Comporta and Melides.

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The area is often called the “Hamptons of Western Europe” because it’s a luxurious and exclusive destination – like the Hamptons in the US.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to have stayed at the resort and visited Eugenie after the Invictus Games in 2023.

It was then reported a year later that they had bought their own place on the resort.

When one Sun Writer visited herself, she discovered a flamingo-filled lagoon, picturesque rice fields and vineyards.

There are also harming village streets without a single tourist and, perhaps best of all, stunning secret beaches only the locals knew about

Melides has been in existence for more than 500 years and for much of that time it has been a quiet hamlet with a white-cobbled central square.

From Lisbon, the beach is an hour and a half’s drive south of the country.

Speaking of Portugal, Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey discovered ‘Caribbean-like islands with no crowds’ in Portugal.

Plus, the stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2.

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The unique beach has orange cliffs and big waves[/caption]

ALEX DUNNE shared a tender moment with his family after living “a little boy’s dream” on his Formula 1 debut with McLaren.

The Offaly teenager, 19, filled in for Lando Norris for the first free practice session at the Austrian GP.

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He more than lived up to the billing, driving fourth fastest in the session.

Dunne’s finished less than a tenth of a second behind teammate and F1 Championship leader Oscar Piastri.

After crossing the finish line at the Red Bull Ring, he sent an emotional message of thanks to the McLaren garage.

He said: ““A little boy’s dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life.

“Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car.”

When he got back to the garage, the Irishman was greeted by his family, with hugs aplenty, while he was congratulated by his brother who was wearing an Offaly GAA jersey.

By driving in Austria, Dunne was the first Irishman to take part in an F1 weekend since Ralph Firman in 2003.

English-born Firman raced under an Irish licence for Jaguar.

Dunne is also the first driver born on the island of Ireland to take part since Eddie Irvine, who was born in Co Down, left the grid after ten seasons in 2002.

And he is the first born in the Republic since Tommy Byrne, who took part in two grands prix with backmarker Theodore in 1982.

Lando Norris retook the seat from Dunne for FP2 and FP3.

Commenting after the session, Dunne said: “I don’t even know where to start.

“Super, super happy. i think it is safe to say it went pretty well.

“We knew going through the session that the goal wasn’t necessarily performance, it was more to help out with the car, help Lando, and just help the team improve as much as they can for FP2, FP3 and then onwards into the weekend.

“To have the pace and show what I am capable of on the F1 stage is something pretty special.”

Dunne’s star has been rising since making his F2 debut under the McLaren banner in March.

He made a dream start to the 2025 season by becoming the first Irish driver to win an F2 race with victory at Bahrain in April.

And after being involved in a dramatic 11-car crash in Monaco last month, he bounced back by climbing 17 places in Barcelona’s sprint race to finish second.

That podium finish alongside winner Richard Verschoor and third-placed Rafael Villagomez saw Dunne take the outright lead in the F2 standings, further growing his reputation within McLaren.

He will also take part in F2 in Austria, with qualifying starting just over two hours after stepping out of Lando’s car.

Dunne then has the F2 sprint race on Saturday and Sunday’s feature race.

King Charles III hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 2025 King’s Trust Awards, honouring young people.

Kaizer Chiefs‘ Marketing and Commercial Director, Jessica Motaung says the club is looking at getting the right players.

LIDL Ireland is set to launch a huge sale on a range of garden and travel items this weekend – with discounts of up to €50.

The bargain supermarket has everything you need this summer in its Saturday sale for Lidl Plus members.

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Lidl Ireland is set to have a major sale for its Lidl plus members[/caption]

Lidl Ireland

A range of garden items will see their prices reduced[/caption]

Lidl Ireland

There is also major reductions on travel goods[/caption]

To start, the 20V Smart Robot Lawnmower has dropped from €349.99 to €329.99, saving you €20.

It covers lawns up to 1,000 square metres and can be programmed through the PARKSIDE app on your phone.

It also comes with a rechargeable battery, charging station and handles slopes up to 25 degrees without any fuss.

Up next, the 4 Burner Gas Barbecue is now €249.99 instead of €299.99 – giving buyers €50 off.

It has four burners, a warming rack and an infrared side burner for perfectly seared steaks.

What’s more, the Folding Gazebo has been reduced for Lidl Plus members by €20, down to €69.99 from €89.99.

Two attachable side panels let you create privacy or extra shade whenever you need it.

This bargain item is UV-resistant, water-repellent and the legs can be adjusted to different heights in seconds.

For those heading abroad over summer, the kids’ ride-on suitcase is now just €19.99, saving €5 off the original €24.99 price.

Children can sit, pull, ride or play with it on holidays and day trips.

The suitcase also comes with a lockable closure and an adjustable strap for carrying.

Another garden bargain is the 2-Seater Swing which has dropped from €79.99 to €74.99 – knocking €5 off for shoppers.

It has comfy cushions and a canopy with UV protection factor 30 to keep you shaded.

Made of weather-resistant frames, the item is built to last through Irish summers.

MAJOR REDUCTIONS FOR SHOPPERS

Pet owners can pick up the Collapsible Dog Bed or Dog Bed with Sun Shade for €12.99 instead of the original price at €17.99.

They are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and fold away when you need extra space – and there’s even a sun shade version that helps keep pets cool on summer days.

And the 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer is now only €14.99 for Lidl Plus members, reduced from €19.99.

It weighs just 1.4kg, making it easy to handle for longer jobs while the 24cm cutting circle and ergonomic handle help you tidy up the garden fast.

Up next, the Robot Lawnmower Garage has dropped from €39.99 to €34.99 for Lidl Plus members.

It shields your mower from rain, snow and harsh sun while it charges.

The bargain buy also features a hinged sloping roof makes it easy to access the controls and keeps rainwater draining away.

Lastly, the 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer is now €14.99 instead of €19.99, saving you €5.

It’s lightweight at just 1.4kg with an ergonomic handle and a 24cm cutting circle with a fully automatic line system that makes tidying up edges hassle-free.

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Some items will have €50 off their original price[/caption]

ROBBIE Williams has fuelled speculation he’s returning to Glastonbury to do a secret set.

The pop star sent the rumour mill wild with a cryptic instagram post – 30 years after his infamous appearance at the festival.

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Robbie Williams has dropped hints about a return to Worthy Farm[/caption]

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He shared a snap of this plaque on instagram[/caption]

Robbie posted a pic of a plaque, which read: “1995. Robbie Williams entered this area without accreditation, authorisation or alignment with prevailing taste.

“His presence was uninvited, unofficial and ultimately inevitable.”

Robbie then simply captioned it: “30 years!!!!!!!”

He spent the festival partying with Oasis singers Liam and Noel Gallagher soon after leaving Take That.

With the band reuniting next week, fans are hopeful the coincidence is actually another clue about Robbie making a return to Worthy Farm.

In another hint at reliving his glory Glastonbury days, Robbie’s cover of his upcoming album Britpop is of a photo of him at the festival in 1995 wearing his iconic red tracksuit.

He said on the Robbie Williams Rewind podcast in 2023: “It’s one of those times and places, and a reimagination of what Robbie Williams is.

“When you do Glastonbury, perception changes more than any other festival.”

He credits his wild nights with Oasis at Glastonbury for being the “start of his new life” after leaving Take That.

Williams said: “I started getting ideas about writing my own songs. One thing led to another and I made the cardinal mistake of breaking the rules. They couldn’t contain me anymore.

“I set off with [a] flute full of champagne and a pocket full of cocaine, ready to get insane in the membrane and I went to Glastonbury to begin what I didn’t know was to be the start of my new life.

“…Take That became a painful, distant memory. Until they came back and were much bigger than they were back then!

“They came back and they were bigger than they were!

“And I was happy for them, and I thought, ‘F*** it, if you can beat them join them.’”

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Robbie credits the Gallagher brothers in marking the start of his new life[/caption]

Orlando Pirates confirm eight new signings in bold rebuild, while Monnapule Saleng’s future could have an interesting twist.