More than 70,000 passengers are expected to use Bristol Airport this Easter weekend. Airlines will be switching to their summer schedules after the clocks change on Sunday, meaning an increase in flights.
People are being advised to turn up at least two hours before their flight's departure.
The Institute of Welsh Affairs report is proposing a new Severnside Airport:
Bristol Airport reacted to the proposal it should be closed and replaced with a larger airport inside Wales by insisting it is "well positioned to meet the connectivity requirements of both regions in the medium and long term."
"No doubt the Airports Commission will receive many proposals for airport schemes right across the UK. It is important that these are deliverable solutions not somewhat far-fetched proposals reliant on the forced closure of a successful, privately owned airport which supports thousands of jobs."
Both Cardiff Airport and the Welsh Government have said they do not wish to comment while there is due diligence work ongoing, over the proposed takeover.
The Severnside Airport proposal has been submitted to the UK Government's Airports Commission, which is looking into airport capacity around the UK. The commission says it is not responding to individual bits of evidence currently.
Cardiff Airport and Bristol Airport should both close, and be replaced by a new larger 'Severnside Airport' serving south west Britain, according to an influential think tank.
Research published today by the Institute of Welsh Affairs recommends the new airport should be built on the edge of the estuary between Newport and Chepstow, with convenient access to the motorway system and a newly-electrified rail service the key benefits.
The study, carried out by aviation consultants MSP Solutions, supports the Welsh Government's plan to buy Cardiff Airport, but only in the short term.
Read More: Welsh Government under fire over Cardiff Airport takeover plan
It warns there could be "a serious worsening of air connectivity" for Wales, unless something is done.
In 2003, the UK Government rejected a previous proposal for an airport to be built alongside the Severn estuary.
Experts have suggested closing Bristol airport and replacing it with a new runway on Severnside. Bristol should be shut along with Cardiff airport, with a new terminal built between Chepstow and Newport, according to a study for the Institute of Welsh Affairs.
Passenger numbers at Bristol Airport have risen for the third successive year. The number of people passing through the terminal was up 2.8 per cent compared to the previous year, making Bristol the only airport in the UK’s top ten to see growth each year since the end of 2009.
A total of 5.9 million passengers used Bristol Airport during 2012, including record monthly totals in June and July. The rise was achieved with a decrease of almost 5,000 flights as a result of airlines operating larger aircraft.
– Robert Sinclair, CEO Bristol Airport“These figures are a very positive signal that the South West economy is moving in the right direction. The resurgence in business travel has been particularly strong with several airlines, including KLM and Brussels Airlines, adding capacity on routes to major European hub airports. We expect this growth to continue throughout 2013, with further route announcements in the pipeline.”
Twenty flights were grounded at Bristol Airport today after the snow proved too difficult to shift, despite only yesterday the airport showing off its snow clearing equipment.
Passengers were rebooked onto other flights, but left waiting to find out exactly when they could take off.
Laura Makin-Isherwood reports:
Operations are returning to normal at Bristol Airport. Heavy snow fall at the Lulsgate runway led to 20 cancelled and postponed flights. Earlier, ITV News West Country spoke to airport spokesman James Gore and some of the passengers waiting to board flights:
The runway at Bristol Airport is now open and flights are operating. There are some delays and cancellations because of earlier weather conditions.
This was the scene earlier today:
