BRS's passenger numbers will be substantially affected by the loss of Thomas Cook. TCX handled about half a million passengers annually at BRS, approximately 6% of the total annual passenger throughput. With flybmi ceasing to operate last February that is another potential 200,000 passengers down. However, that deficit has been mitigated significantly with Brussels Airlines taking back BRU, albeit with a third party carrier, easyJet doubling its own frequency to 2 x daily on CDG, Loganair taking on ABZ, easyJet and Ryanair commencing MXP, all routes that flybmi operated, but flybmi's other routes - FRA, MUC,DUS and HAM - have not been replaced.
BRS has seen strong passenger growth in recent years from 6.3 mppa in 2014 to 8.7 mppa in 2018. The current 12-monthly rolling total (to July) is just under 8.9 mppa. Had TCX continued to operate, and with other airline growth, it's likely that 10mppa would have been within touching distance over the next couple of years.
That might have presented a problem to the airport as its current planning consents restrict it to 10 mppa. BRS has applied to the local authority for the limit to be raised to 12 mppa and submitted planning applications for infrastructure expansion to enable it to handle that number. The applications have been with the local authority for most of this year with no sign yet of a determination date. With the political colour of the local authority (North Somerset unitary authority) markedly changed since May's local elections it is quite likely that the applications will be rejected. That could lead to a Planning Inspectorate appeal which might not be completed for up to another two years.
Laudamotion announced today that they would be commencing BRS-Vienna on 29 March next year at 2 x weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays. That will compete with easyJet's BRS-VIE also 2 x weekly but which is being increased to 3 x weekly for much of the coming winter and next summer until the end of June, after which it reverts to 2 x weekly.