Birmingham News 2008 and 2009
Birmingham Airport News Stories
2008 and 2009
After 2 days in the job, new bmibaby boss makes a quarter of staff redundant
Birmingham International Airport sets out to lure flights from Heathrow
20th October 2009 Birmingham chief executive Paul Kehoe has stepped up his campaign to lure passengers and flights from Heathrow by pointing out that BIA could handle twice as many passengers a year immediately without engaging in any costly reconstruction work. He said using Birmingham would be far more efficient than the proposal to build a new London airport in the Thames Estuary – and take the pressure off Heathrow by making more use of BIA. (B’ham Post) Click here to view full story…
A380 Super jumbo comes to Birmingham
10th September 2009 An Emirates A380 – the largest commercial airliner – landed at Birmingham, on the airport’s 70th anniversary. The plane can potentially carry 800 passengers, though instead it has 2 onboard showers and 1st and business class passengers can also use an onboard lounge and bar on the plane’s upper deck. The day also saw the opening of the new £45m International Pier. The extended runway could be in place by 2013, if funding for the project can be finalised. (BBC) Click here to view full story…
Birmingham Airport launch Noise Action Plan consultation
4th July 2009 The airport has launched a 16 week Public Consultation, to seek the public’s views on Birmingham International Airport’s Draft Noise Action Plan. The Public Consultation ends on 21st October 2009. Following the Public Consultation, the Airport will review the responses and produce its Noise Action Plan. Click here to view full story…
Birmingham Airport urged to drop plans for second runway
Birmingham Airport plan prepares for take-off – 400m extension allowed
31st March 2009 Plans to extend the runway at Birmingham finally got the go-ahead from Solihull Council. Birmingham Airport had to resubmit its proposed Section 106 agreement, which explained how it planned to counteract noise pollution and to protect the environment. The planning committee approved the 400-metre extension in December – subject to the amended guarantees now agreed. Expansion will enable bigger jets to fly non-stop to long-haul destinations. (B’ham Post) Click here to view full story…
Recession dashes hopes of passenger increase at Birmingham Airport
27th February 2009 Hopes for a dramatic increase in passengers using Birmingham Airport have been dashed by the recession, according to its chief executive, Paul Kehoe who took over running the airport last July. Growth had ground to a halt and may not pick up until 2012. The airport was expected to miss its target of reaching 18 million passengers by 2017, but will still press ahead with plans to extend its runway, to allow long-haul flights. (Birmingham Post) Click here to view full story…
Birmingham Airport runway extension plans approved
16th December 2008 Solihull’s planning sub committee said they would back the 400 m extension of the runway, subject to planning gain constraints on noise and environmental protection, to be agreed at a later meeting. In a unanimous vote they agreed to grant planning permission providing the Section 106 agreement met their approval. They said they had to consider the needs of the airport and the business sector, which wants B’ham to compete on the ‘global stage’.(B’ham Post) Click here to view full story…
Airport claims “Businesses must support Birmingham’s runway plans”
Birmingham – Hoon urged to support BIA plans
11th December 2008 West Midland business leaders are pressing transport secretary Geoff Hoon to voice his continued backing for the expansion of Birmingham International Airport (BIA). Support organisations, led by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI), are urging the minister to publicly support the airport, whose application to extend its runway by 400 metres goes before Solihull council on Monday evening. (Birmingham Post) Click here to view full story…
Celebrities join petition against Birmingham Airport runway extension
3rd December 2008 Comedian Mark Thomas and the novelist Will Self are among celebrities opposed to a planned 400-metre extension of Birmingham Airport’s main runway. The pair joined 1,000 protesters to sign a petition urging Solihull Council to throw out the £120 million scheme on environmental grounds. Campaigners dressed as pilots delivered the petition, in the form of postcards, to Solihull Borough Council on top of a duty-free shopping trolley. (Birmingham Post) Click here to view full story…
Five routes suspended from Birmingham by Bmibaby
27th November 2008 Bmibaby is suspending 5 of its summer services from Birmingham Airport. The routes affected are to Rome, Milan, Lisbon, Madrid and Bordeaux, with the flights to be put on hold between 29 March and 24 October 2009. This is in response to a lack of demand, with travellers cutting down on city breaks, but still wanting sun destinations. The suspension of the flights could lead to 65 jobs losses in Birmingham, as well as 5 in the East Midlands. (BBC) Click here to view full story…
Solihull Council to consider Birmingham Airport’s runway extension
New runway at Birmingham Airport could take six years
1st November 2008 Birmingham’s direct gateway to the West Coast of America and China could be delayed 6 years if the Government calls in a £130 million runway extension scheme. The new CEO, Paul Kehoe, said Government intervention could mean a delay on a decision of up to 3 years – as well as a 3-year building programme. But if Solihull Council approves the scheme before Christmas – and GOWM nods it through – building could start by mid 2009. (Birmingham Post) Click here to view full story…
Second consultation on Birmingham Airport runway extension
Date Added: 11th October 2008 Opponents fighting plans for a 130ft extension to the main runway at Birmingham Airport have a second chance to voice their disapproval after Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council reopened public consultation on the contentious proposals for another 20 days. Environmental campaigners welcomed the decision after complaining not enough people were aware of the airport’s intentions. The deadline is now some time in December. (UK Airport News) Click here to view full story…
Paul Kehoe named as new Birmingham Airport chief
4th July 2008 Birmingham Airport has announced that its new chief executive will be Paul Kehoe, currently in charge at Bristol Airport. No date has been set for Mr Kehoe to take up his new appointment, and there is no comment about the future of the current acting managing director, Joe Kelly. Mr Kehoe was previously managing director at Luton and Belfast Airports. (Birmingham Post) Click here to view full story…
Work begins on Birmingham Airport extension
22nd June 2008 Work has begun on the construction of a massive £45 million extension to Terminal One at Birmingham Airport. The new pier will is the single biggest investment that the airport has made in more than 20 years. The new International Pier will be a three-storey building 240m long and 24m wide. (UK Airport News) Click here to view full story…
Birmingham becomes Ryanair’s 25th base
17th June 2008 Ryanair announced that Birmingham will become its 25th European base, to be launched on 17-Jun-08 with an initial two Boeing 737-800 aircraft which will deliver 20 new routes from Birmingham. Ryanair will operate from Terminal 2 at Birmingham Airport, where it recently relocated. (Peanuts) Click here to view full story…
Birmingham Airport backs Brazilian rainforest project
7th March 2008 Beware Greenwash ! A corner of a Brazilian rainforest will be forever Birmingham after the airport invested £20,000 to protect 180 acres of endangered forest. Birmingham Airport has spent the money to both protect the trees and lock away nearly 50,000 tonnes of CO2. (* However, this amounts to the emissions of just a few % of the planes using the airport annually). (from Cheap Flights) Click here to view full story…
Birmingham – Airport threat misses target
Second airport runway abandoned
26.9.2007 (BBC)
The airport now wants to extend its existing runway. Officials at Birmingham International Airport have scrapped plans to build a second runway.
Airport chiefs had originally said an extra runway would be needed to cater for a three-fold increase in passenger numbers to about 27m a year by 2030.
The airport has now said instead it wants to extend the existing runway and build a third passenger terminal. It says with these extra services it would not have to re-consider having another runway until at least 2030.
The latest plans will be submitted later this year and are expected to be completed in time for the 2012 London Olympics.
‘Aware of concerns’
The airport’s acting managing director Joe Kelly said the extra flights each year could be just as well catered for by the extension as they would be by a second runway. He added that the airport was also hoping to run more long-haul flights to areas such as the US.
Mr Kelly said they would be consulting local residents in nearby Catherine de Barnes, near Solihull, over the redevelopment work. “We will do everything we can and consult with people before we put in the planning application,” he said.
“We will make sure we’re aware of all of their concerns. The airport has always done that and will always continue to do so.”