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Birmingham Airport flying high as passenger numbers rise

The number of passengers passing through Birmingham Airport has risen.

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Birmingham Airport

Figures show 5.9 million passengers used the airport in the first six months of 2019, up three per cent on a year earlier, although still slightly behind 2017.

Passenger growth has been boosted by strong performances from a number of operators, including Emirates, Wizz Air, Jet2, Ryanair and Qatar.

It comes as major work is due to start in weeks on its T18 project – named because it will create a terminal that can handle 18 million passengers a year, compared with its previous annual high of 13 million that was achieved in 2017.

Nick Barton, chief executive of the airport, said: “There’s quite a lot going on although all of the work is behind the scenes.

“There will be significant additional baggage handling, and additional lounge space, retail and restaurants.

“It will start materially in the next few weeks and the plan is to get it substantially completed by a year in September.”

Mr Barton also doesn’t expect passengers to see any disruption from the UK’s impedending departure from the European Union.

An agreement was put in place ahead of the original March deadline that meant all of the rules and recognitions would have stayed in place for a transition period and the industry expects that accord to be extended.

“A disrupted aviation market is not in anyone’s interest,” Mr Barton said.

“We have done our assessments and our biggest focus for extra effort is in cargo.

“A passenger is unlikely to see any difference, irrespective of how Brexit happens.”

In June Birmingham Airport published its new masterplan for future development after a 12-week public consultation.

The plan outlines how the airport will develop its site to handle the increase in passenger numbers up to the year 2033.

It includes an investment of £500 million in a bid to transform the terminal, create 34,000 jobs and generate more than £2 billion in economic benefit for the wider West Midlands.

The consultation included public events and meetings with a range of regional stakeholders and community groups.

Over the 12 weeks, 129 responses were received, with the majority of community and residents responding to the set questions via the website.

A total of 132 people attended the public events that were held in 20 venues including in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The decision to continue to make use of the existing runway was supported by 77 per cent of people asked and 73 per cent were in favour of the airport doing more to maximise employment and economic benefits.

Also 74 per cent wanted to see the airport minimise environmental impacts as it grows.

The most common themes of feedback were around surface access, the environment and flight path changes – as well as a desire to see more flights to the United States and Far East.

Main changes made to the final masterplan were around strengthening information on inclusive growth, air pollution and the airport’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.

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