It’s home to more than 30 airlines, flying direct to 144 destinations with 657 onward one-stop destinations, and as Birmingham Airport (BHX) looks to the future it’s unveiling a raft of initiatives to make the customer experience even smoother.
The airport already boasts impressive road and public transport networks, including direct access to the mainline railway. This surface accessibility will be further bolstered as BHX will be the only airport to be connected to the new High Speed 2 trainline to London, by an on-site interchange.
Currently serving 12m passengers a year, BHX has a strong existing catchment area, with 12.3m passengers within 60 minutes, and 83% of people living in England and Wales within a two-hour rail or road journey. The newly built High Speed 2 connection in 2029 will add an extra 5.2m passengers into the catchment overnight.
Discover how BHX is expanding the destinations available to passengers, improving its commercial offering and working towards its net zero goal for 2033.
More destinations
BHX’s route network spans an array of short and long-haul destinations worldwide served by low cost, charter, scheduled and flag carrier airlines. Whether your clients want a city break in Barcelona, Lisbon or Paris, plan to soak up the sun in Dubai, Doha, Delhi or Jeddah or are seeking a beach getaway in Cancun, Fuerteventura or Ibiza, they can fly with ease to these and many more destinations direct from BHX.
To meet its 18m passenger goal in 2033 a target destination list is in its sights. A return to transatlantic connectivity with direct routes to New York, Toronto, Mumbai and Hong Kong is top of the list. Nearer to home, European routes include Stuttgart, Oslo and Hamburg, and there are plans to add more frequencies on existing routes to Budapest, Lisbon and Copenhagen.
More choice
To ease clients into their holiday, BHX boasts a wide range of shops, restaurants and lounges. As part of the refreshed and improved commercial offering, Indian street food restaurant Chaiiwala has opened in the departure lounge, serving drinks, snacks, all day breakfasts, Bombay toasties and more. It will be followed by another new dining option in December, with even more to come next spring.
Once airside, those seeking some pre-holiday retail therapy can indulge in tax-free shopping at a range of high street and designer stores, and BHX is also home to five lounges, where passengers can relax and unwind before they fly.
Investment to 2033
BHX has committed to investing £300m, and part of this was spent on the recently completed, multi-million pound new security hall. This new state of the art equipment ensures passengers receive a more streamlined and simpler experience.
The new Next-Generation Security (NGS) equipment boasts the convenience that customers no longer need to remove their liquids, pastes and gels from their hand luggage, as they can stay in their hand luggage bag. The same applies to any electrical items – which previously had to be removed and placed in a tray – as these too can now stay in hand luggage, ensuring a less complicated security process.
Summer 2025 will see the introduction of a further two lanes to complement the existing high tech security area and supports the forecast demand.
All development, improvement and infrastructure works are underpinned by BHX’s goal to be a net zero carbon airport by 2033, by prioritising zero carbon airport operations and minimising carbon offsets. As part of this commitment, £9.7m has been invested in a 12,000-panel solar farm on-site. This new solar farm will be responsible for providing at least 20% of the airport’s electrical power requirement, ensuring it is less reliant on the National Grid. At peak supply it is it is anticipated it will save 1,285 tonnes of CO2 per year.
BHX is also extending its network of electric vehicle charging stations with a series of high-speed EV charging points to be installed in Car Park 6.
The airport has also invested in energy efficient lighting and made improvements to its energy management technology, as well as renewing its heating and cooling infrastructure, as it transitions to low carbon heating.
We’re On Our Way
BHX serves the UK’s second city of Birmingham and is rightly placed for growth. It has ambitious plans, supported by an ongoing investment programme and underpinned by its plan to be net zero.
To showcase its offering, the airport has recently launched its largest marketing programme to date, stretching out of its core catchment area to highlight its routes and facilities. ‘We’re On Our Way’ targets customers who have a choice of ‘local’ airport, ensuring BHX is firmly in their sights when making that important booking decision. Look out for the adverts coming to a laptop, radio and TV near you!
