(NEWS) BRISTOL, England, 2026-Aug-27 — /Travel PR News/ — Bristol Airport and Discover Airlines have announced a new direct connection between Bristol and Frankfurt, marking the Lufthansa Group leisure carrier’s first destination in England and part of a wider summer 2027 expansion into Great Britain.
The new Bristol–Frankfurt service will begin on 17 May 2027 and operate twice weekly, with flights scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays. The route will be operated by Discover Airlines, part of Lufthansa Group, using Airbus A320 aircraft.
The announcement forms part of Discover Airlines’ broader short-haul growth for summer 2027, which will also introduce flights from Frankfurt to Glasgow and Inverness, as well as additional Glasgow flights from Munich. Together, the airline will offer up to 11 weekly flights to three destinations in Great Britain.
For Bristol Airport, the Frankfurt service adds an important European connection for both leisure and business travellers. It also gives passengers in the South West of England access to Lufthansa Group’s wider network, with onward connections from Frankfurt to more than 150 destinations worldwide.
The route is expected to support two-way travel. For passengers in the South West, it opens direct access to Germany’s financial capital and one of Europe’s largest aviation hubs. For German visitors, it creates a more convenient way to reach Bristol, Bath and the wider South West, a region known for heritage, culture, countryside and coastal travel.
Marco Götz, Chief Commercial Officer at Discover Airlines, said Bristol is a strong fit for the airline as travellers increasingly look for destinations that combine culture, nature and outdoor experiences. He said the new route will be the only nonstop connection from Frankfurt to the South West of England in summer 2027.
Visit West welcomed the route as a boost for the visitor economy. Kathryn Davis, Chief Executive at Visit West, said there is already strong demand from German visitors to experience Bristol, Bath and the wider region, and that the new connection will make travel easier and more appealing.
Rupert Lawrie, Commercial Director at Bristol Airport, said the new service is positive news for both business and leisure customers. He noted that the route will complement increased capacity from Germany and Switzerland next year and support the airport’s work to bring more visitors into the region.
The Bristol route also fits neatly into Discover Airlines’ wider Great Britain strategy. The airline said it is seeing growing interest in destinations where travellers can combine city experiences with rural landscapes, nature and outdoor activities.
Bristol offers access to the Cotswolds, southwest England and a region that can appeal to visitors looking for independent travel, food, history, walking routes and cultural breaks. Glasgow and Inverness, meanwhile, open access to Scotland’s urban culture and the Highlands, including landscapes shaped by mountains, moors, lakes and Loch Ness.
Frankfurt itself adds a strong city-break and business dimension to the route. The city is known for its financial sector, modern skyline, historic architecture, food traditions, apple wine taverns and green spaces. It also provides easy access to the Rhine Valley, the Black Forest, thermal spa towns and onward European rail and road connections.
For businesses in the South West, the direct route may also improve links with German commerce and wider international markets through Lufthansa Group connections. That makes the service relevant not only for inbound tourism, but also for regional economic connectivity.
Discover Airlines has been part of Lufthansa Group’s leisure travel offer since 2021, flying from Frankfurt and Munich to holiday destinations worldwide. Its expansion into England and Scotland gives the carrier a stronger presence in the British Isles, alongside its existing Frankfurt–Shannon service in Ireland.
Flights on the new Great Britain routes are now available through Discover Airlines, Lufthansa channels, German tour operators and travel agencies.
For Bristol Airport, the new Frankfurt link strengthens its European network and reinforces its role as a gateway for the South West. For Discover Airlines, Bristol becomes an important entry point into England as the airline builds a summer schedule around destinations where culture, scenery and outdoor travel meet.
