Airport runway extension gets underway
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Birmingham Airport’s runway extension got underway today as the airport continues to bid for more long-haul routes.
The runway will be increased by 405 metres which will allow aircraft with more fuel to fly from the airport. It is due to be completed in early 2014.
“The strong economic profile of the Midlands means that businesses are crying out for direct connectivity from their local airport so it makes no sense that 3.3 million passengers from the West Midlands last year flew from airports in the South East, adding congestion on the roads and at Heathrow, which is already 99.2% full. Redirecting this traffic back to the Midlands would release high value, long-haul capacity at London airports and boost the UK’s trading potential,” argued Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport on the development.
“We have plenty of spare capacity at Birmingham now. Our passenger numbers could double from the current nine million a year to eighteen million today, and the runway extension will allow us to increase beyond thirty six million in future years.”
The airport is also lobbying the government to be recognised as a ‘National Airport’ for its role as a gateway into the UK.
