Exeter vs Bristol: Which airport should you choose?

For holidaymakers across the South West, choosing which airport to fly from can be a big decision.

From flight prices and destination choices to car parking costs and transport links, Exeter and Bristol Airports each have their pros and cons.

We’ve compared the two to make the choice a little easier. Here’s everything you need to know:

Number of destinations

A holidaymaker’s choice of airport is often dictated by the destinations it offers.

Exeter Airport offers direct flights to 29 destinations in 11 different countries, plus an additional 155 destinations through a connection in Amsterdam.

Passengers can fly direct from Bristol Airport to 123 destinations in 34 countries, as well as 160 additional destinations through stops in Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

These additional destinations mean customers wanting to fly direct to locations in Egypt or Italy will need to travel from Bristol.

Exeter Airport does, however, offer direct flights to Caribbean destinations for anyone wanting to cruise in Barbados or visit the Dominican Republic - Bristol does not.

Flight prices

Price is also an important factor for many when deciding where to fly from.

According to flight search engine SkyScanner, a direct flight from Exeter to Amsterdam, Netherlands with KLM airlines- one of the airport’s most popular routes - will cost one adult between £150 to £200.

A flight from Bristol to Amsterdam with KLM will set you back between £70 to £140.

If you’d rather visit Spain, a flight to Alicante from Bristol could cost anywhere between £25 to £130 depending when you fly.

From Exeter, a flight to Alicante can cost up to £185.

Car parking

There are four choices when it comes to parking your car at Exeter Airport, each offering a different price and distance from the terminal.

The following prices are based on a three day stay from December 1 to December 3.

• Exeter’s car park one is a three minute walk to the terminal and will cost you £69.
• Car park two, described as “best for short stays”, is a seven minute walk with a cost of £54.
• Car park three is a 10 minute walk to the terminal and costs around £44 to park.
• Car park four is a 12 minute walk and is cheapest at £40 for three days parking.

With Bristol Airport nearly 70 miles from Exeter city centre, many holidaymakers choose the convenience of driving and parking up. Bristol airport also offers four car parking zones - plus a ‘premium’ concierge service.

• Three days in Bristol Airport’s silver zone car park will cost you £100.
• A stay in the multi-storey car park will cost £175.
• Three days in the short stay car park will cost £150.
• The mid stay car park, a 12 minute walk from the terminal, will cost you £135 to park.

This makes parking at Exeter Airport significantly cheaper, especially once you factor in the fuel to Bristol.

Public transport accessibility

For those who prefer not to drive, Exeter Airport is easily accessible by public transport.

The 4A and 43 bus both operate regularly to and from the airport. Customers traveling by rail can arrive at either Exeter St Davids or Pinhoe Station before taking a 30 minute bus to the airport.

From Exeter city centre to Bristol Airport, the journey is a little longer. Passengers can take a Falcon bus direct from the city, with a journey time of approximately 3.5 hours, or can travel by rail to Bristol Temple Meads before boarding the Airport Flyer bus.

Flight cancellation rates

According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority, 5 per cent of flights from Exeter Airport were cancelled in August 2026 - the third highest rate of any airport in the UK.

In comparison, Bristol Airport had a cancellation rate of 1.7 per cent in August 2026.

Facilities

Both Exeter and Bristol offer shopping and dining facilities to travellers.

After passing through security at Exeter Airport (which is understood can take up to 11 minutes at peak times), holidaymakers can choose between two restaurants, visit WHSmith, or shop at Duty Free.

The airport also offers an executive lounge, available to book from £27.50 per person.

Those flying from Bristol have the choice of nine different cafes and restaurants after security (where passengers can expect to wait up to 30 minutes at peak times, according to tracker AirportmapHQ) as well as seven shops and a Duty Free section.

A visit to the Bristol Airport lounge will cost you at least £39.99.

Conclusion

Flying from Exeter Airport offers many in the South West a more convenient experience - it’s closer to home and car parking is cheaper, however flights can be more expensive and destinations are more limited.

Do you prefer to fly from Exeter or Bristol? Let us know.