Monday, November 11, 2024 Discover the surprising history of UK ’s regional airports that once connected directly to the US, offering unique transatlantic routes now lost to time. With the UK and the US ranked among the world’s most prominent aviation markets, it’s no surprise that air traffic between them is high. Today, most travelers flying from the UK to the US pass through Heathrow or Gatwick, London’s primary aviation hubs.
However, history shows us a time when other UK airports provided direct flights to the US, catering to regional travelers in Bristol, Stansted, and Liverpool. These unique routes, though now discontinued, offer a nostalgic glimpse into the aviation industry’s evolving connectivity. Bristol Airport has long served as a focal point for travelers in southwest England and southern Wales, drawing passengers from Bristol, Bath, and Cardiff.
While today’s flights focus primarily on short-haul European destinations, Bristol once boasted a direct transatlantic route to the United States with Continental Airlines. This route, which ran between Bristol and Newark Liberty International Airport, marked a significant milestone in regional connectivity. In May 2005, Continental Airlines launched this route using its Boeing 757 fleet, offering travelers in the southwest a direct link to the US without the hassle of traveling to London.
According to Bristol Airport’s historical records, this marked the first-ever nonstop transatlantic service from the r.