Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
Bournemouth Airport (BOH) is a regional airport in Hurn, Dorset, situated 5 miles north of Bournemouth town centre. It handles approximately 1 million passengers per year, primarily serving the leisure market with routes to Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
Ryanair is the dominant carrier, operating the majority of scheduled services including Alicante, Faro, Malaga, Dublin, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, and Lanzarote. TUI operates holiday charters in summer, and Jet2 runs seasonal services to Mediterranean destinations. The airport serves a large catchment area including Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, and the New Forest.
The airport's key selling point for Dorset residents is the avoidance of longer journeys to Southampton, Gatwick, or Heathrow. While the route network is more limited than those airports, pre-booking Ryanair fares from BOH can represent excellent value for the region's most popular sun destinations. Car hire is strongly recommended for exploring the New Forest and Jurassic Coast.
Single terminal — compact and manageable
⚠️ Ryanair's check-in desk closes strictly 40 minutes before departure — do not arrive late. Online check-in and bringing only a personal item can significantly simplify the process.
Most popular routes
Bournemouth Airport FAQs
In the week to 4 Nov we saw non-stop fares from Bournemouth to 28 destinations. The cheapest one-way fares seen were Luqa £15, Alicante £16, Edinburgh £16, Wrocław £16 and Krakow £16.
The lowest one-way fare we saw this week was £15 to Luqa with Ryanair, for travel on 14 Nov (seen on 28 Oct). It is a fare seen on that date, not a live price.
Airlines seen selling non-stop flights from Bournemouth this week: Jet2 (17 destinations), Ryanair (14 destinations) and TUI Airways (4 destinations).
Bournemouth has more leisure routes, particularly via Ryanair — Spanish sun, Faro, Lanzarote, Dublin, and Amsterdam. Southampton has better public transport (airport branch rail line) and suits travellers in the Hampshire / M3 corridor. If you live in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, or the New Forest area and your destination is in BOH's route network, Bournemouth is the clear choice.
Ryanair chose Bournemouth for its lower airport charges and the large leisure catchment area — Bournemouth and Poole combined have a significant population that historically went to Gatwick or Southampton. Ryanair's presence made BOH commercially viable and gave Dorset residents a local budget flight option. Today Ryanair operates the majority of scheduled routes from the airport.
Strongly recommended for exploring the area. The New Forest National Park is immediately north — a hire car opens up the entire forest for cycling, walking, and wildlife watching. The Jurassic Coast UNESCO site stretches east towards Swanage and west towards Weymouth. Bournemouth itself is easy by bus, but Dorset is a car destination. Pre-book online to save 30–40% over desk rates.
Bus route mno7 runs to Bournemouth town centre in approximately 30 minutes for around £3.50. Taxis cost approximately £15–20. There is no direct rail link — Bournemouth rail station is in the town centre and connects via bus or taxi to the airport. Pre-booking a taxi is advisable as terminal ranks can be limited.
Short Stay has a covered walkway to the terminal and is most convenient. Long Stay uses a free shuttle bus and is best value for holidays. Express Drop is for quick set-downs.
Several hotels are within a few miles of the airport in Hurn and Christchurch. Bournemouth town centre (5 miles) has a much wider selection. Pre-book well in advance — Bournemouth is one of the UK's most popular summer resort towns and accommodation fills quickly from May to September.
Night flight restrictions apply at Bournemouth, but early morning departures from around 06:00 and late-night arrivals are common. If you have a very early departure, consider staying in Hurn or Christchurch the night before. Check your specific departure time against bus timetables — early flights may require a taxi.
Transport to Bournemouth Airport
| Bus (mno7) to Bournemouth | ~30 min to town centre · approx £3.50 |
| Taxi to Bournemouth centre | ~15–20 min · approx £15–20 |
| Taxi to Poole | ~20–25 min · approx £20–25 |
| No direct rail link | Bournemouth rail station in town centre · bus or taxi connection required |
| Drive (B3073/A338) | 5 miles north of Bournemouth · 7 miles from Poole · New Forest adjacent |
| New Forest by car | Immediate north of airport — Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge all accessible |
Compare parking options
Pre-booking online can save up to 50% compared to turning up without a reservation.
Who flies from BOH?
| Ryanair | Alicante · Faro · Malaga · Dublin · Edinburgh · Amsterdam · Lanzarote — year-round and summer seasonal |
| TUI | Holiday charters — Mediterranean and Canary Islands · summer seasonal |
| Jet2 | Seasonal services to Mediterranean destinations |
Bournemouth Airport jobs
1 vacancy at Bournemouth Airport (BOH) naming the airport — airport, airline, handling, engineering, cargo, retail and site roles — checked 4 Nov.
| Job | Where | Pay | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly and Test MechanicLine Up Aviation | Christchurch, Dorset | £19.51 – £20.08 an hour | 13 Oct |
Each listing opens its application page; register once, then apply with your CV. All vacancies near Bournemouth · Where the airlines recruit cabin crew and pilots.
Things to do near Bournemouth Airport
The most-booked tours and tickets in Bournemouth with a rating of 4.3 or better from at least 100 reviews. Prices are per person, as seen on 4 Nov.
Listings, photos, ratings and prices from Viator; we earn a commission on bookings and the price you pay is unchanged.
Bournemouth Airport FAQs
Bournemouth has more leisure routes via Ryanair. Southampton has a direct rail link (airport branch line) and suits the Hampshire/M3 corridor. If you're in Dorset, the New Forest, or Poole, Bournemouth is the natural choice — provided your destination is in its route network.
Lower airport charges and a large leisure catchment. Ryanair made BOH commercially viable and gave Dorset residents a local budget option, avoiding the journey to Gatwick or Southampton. Today Ryanair operates the bulk of scheduled services.
Strongly recommended for visiting the area. The New Forest begins immediately north of the airport. The Jurassic Coast stretches in both directions. Bournemouth is manageable by bus, but Dorset is a car destination. Pre-book online to save 30–40%.
Bus mno7 runs to Bournemouth town centre in about 30 min (£3.50). Taxis take 15–20 min and cost £15–20. No direct rail link — Bournemouth rail station is in the town centre.
Short Stay (walkway to terminal), Long Stay (shuttle bus), and Express Drop. Long Stay is best value for holidays of 3+ days.
Several hotels operate in Hurn and Christchurch close to the airport. Bournemouth town (5 miles) has a much wider range. Pre-book well in advance — Bournemouth is a major summer resort and accommodation fills quickly May–September.
Night restrictions apply but early morning departures and late arrivals do operate. If you have a pre-dawn Ryanair departure, stay nearby the night before. Check your departure time against bus timetables — early flights typically require a taxi.