Birmingham Airport Expansion demanded

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AWA Posted: Tue, Jun 26 2007 4:35 PM

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The article below comes from the Birmingham Evening Post on Monday this week:

Perhaps supporters of Coventry Airport might like to comment after development there has been turned down on the grounds that the UK Midlands already have an adequate airport in Birmingham.......Not that Delta were looking at Coventry.......On the other hand 757s have operated from Coventry!

Businesses call for airport extension Jun 25 2007

Birmingham's competitive edge is being damaged by the lack of long haul
flights from the city's airport, business leaders have claimed.

The warning from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is backed by a survey
carried out by the organisation which shows that two thirds of businesses
would use direct flights to destinations such as the Far East and USA.

Birmingham International Airport has plans for a 400-metre extension to the
southern end of the existing runway.

This would increase the potential range of Birmingham's aircraft and would
help the airport compete with Manchester and hubs in London.

Currently business travellers lose valuable time in productivity by
travelling to other UK airports to catch a plane or having to change flights
on the continent.

BCC's chief executive Jerry Blackett said: "Our unique asset is our
geography in the middle of the country so we must make the most of it.

"We cannot talk about Birmingham being a truly global city until we have a
truly global airport. It is as simple as that.
"If we cannot fly to destinations across the globe it proves that we need a
truly international airport.

"We have always said that the 400 metre extension is a priority. It is vital
for the economic prosperity of the region and would ensure that the second
city can compete with Manchester and London."

Aircraft departing from Birmingham would have to remove some of their
passengers or lucrative cargoes if they were to carry enough fuel to reach
long haul destinations. This eats into their profits and makes Birmingham
unattractive.

It is understood that last year Delta Airlines, as part of its massive
expansion into Europe, looked into establishing a Birmingham to Atlanta
route.

However, the US giant pulled out following a study into the potential
opportunities at Birmingham.

BIA chiefs have said previously that many airlines approach the hub – but
back off once they have done their sums.

Recent passenger figures at the airport have shown a decrease of 0.9 per
cent in May when compared to the same month last last year.

BIA blamed the dip on the loss of three BA Connect routes. The former
regional arm of British Airways was taken over by Flybe, who axed some of
the less profitable routes.

A total of 59 per cent of businesses in Birmingham believe the present
situation with long haul flights has a negative effect on business,
according to the Chamber's study.

A similar number said they would definitely use long-haul flights if they
were available at the airport, the Chamber said.

The study also reveals that 53 per cent of business were affected by time
lost travelling to other UK airports or at transfers on the continent.

Businesses wanting to travel to the Far East make up 65 per cent of the
respondents while 41 per cent want to travel the US.

Local businessman Steve Holden, managing director of PR consultancy Haswell
Holden Limited, who are based in Stoke Prior, Worcestershire, is calling on
Birmingham to secure its runway sooner rather than later.

Mr Holden said the facilities at BIA are among the best in the country, but
he has to travel to Manchester and London Gatwick to fly to Florida because
there are no direct services at Birmingham.


He said: "I have to stay in a hotel the night before the flights so that I
am there in time in the morning. This is dead time which I could be using
doing business. It definitely gives my competitors in London or Manchester
the edge.

"We think of ourselves as the second city, so why don't we have these long
haul flights.


"My company is expanding in the US at the moment so we need more flights
across the Atlantic from Birmingham."


BIA were unavailable for comment.

Many thanks to the BHX News and Discussion group for this article alert.

AWA