Birmingham Airport extends

The first aircraft has officially departed from Birmingham Airport’s extended runway, carrying passengers heading to Spain.  In future passengers will be able to fly to destinations much further afield thanks to an extra 400 metres of tarmac which has now been licensed by the CAA.

Birmingham’s new 3,003 metre long runway is a driver for growing destinations, passenger numbers and jobs but the runway extension is just one part of a long-term investment programme, worth over £300m.  Earlier stages have already delivered a new combined terminal, a new maintenance hangar and a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower.

The runway extension opens up the airport to points more than 2,000 miles further than previously, allowing airlines to take more fuel and operate direct to new markets in China, South Africa, South America and the West Coast of the US.  The first aircraft to take advantage of this extra tarmac will be on the 22 July when a new China Southern charter service to Beijing departs.

Birmingham is recognised as an airport where demand may require a second runway at some point in the future.  With the development of the HS2 project alternative locations are under consideration to enable facilities to be co-located with the HS2 station, delivering an integrated transport hub for the future.  www.birminghamairport.co.uk

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